4-1-2008

 

Ongoing Progress

Click on the buttons below to get the updates for those two weeks.

( I'll put the newest information near the top of the page 
so if you want to read the whole story, read from the 
bottom of the page by the dates of the notes.)

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Email Bob

 

4-9-2008  Center Step  5:20 PM

It has taken a week and two pieces of wood, but the little center section step of the right sponson is FINALLY finished and with that - the bottom repair is finally done. The bottom is not done, just the repair. Now I have to sand the step smooth, seal the whole boat with two coats of epoxy sealer - then I get to learn how to spray paint clear coat on the whole bottom.
 
This small section seemed simple before I started, but turned out to be a harder then I thought. Oh well live and learn. I really love the West System glue. It filled in the gaps that I inadvertently couldn't help making.
 
We will roll her back over right side up and start all the top side tasks (sand the whole inside, re-skin the engine rails, install the steering hardware, clear coat the inside of the boat and on and on and on) that has to get done before the deck is attached on May 24 - 25.
 
I can see light at the end of the tunnel - DARN - it was another train coming at me...... LOL

 

 

 

4-3-2008  From Kathy

One of the people who receives Bob's update notes said; So ... it's all good to see all these boat pictures but how about a picture of the boat builder.  Well, here are a few I took today!

 

That's Bob NOT using the mask correctly!

 

 

4-2-2008  Look Who Got Brave  4:54 PM

Today's activities were numerous and EXCITING (to me anyway). (Nate and Mark look at the wonderful opportunity you created, Don, Jeff and Scott H, thank you for your countless hours of patient help, and if I forgot someone, it is only temporary, your all providing encouragement).
 
First off, I got a call from my engine machinist telling me all the components were finished and the engine is completely balanced. They had to add 200 grams of Mallory (tungsten) to the crankshaft to get it balanced correctly. Now it is perfect. YIPPEE!!!!
 
The engine shows the roller rocker arms, roller solid lifters, camshaft, flexplate, finished heads with SOME push rods, roller rockers, and screw in studs. The finished crankshaft, finished heads, finished block, new pistons, new connecting rods. The white box contains all the carburetor jets (4 each from 70 - 84 jet size), power valves, gaskets.
 
Then I went out to the shop and glued down the right sponson runner. On the most part they both turned out very well and are flat (within 1/16" where they are suppose to be. Both sponsons runner definitely fall within my 30,000 ft rule and since we have to slow down to ONLY 120 MPH now, I don't think it will impact the boat's overall performance. Only one remaining piece of the sponson has to be built - we will see what I'm made of when I cut it out.....
 
I went out back out to the shop and marked the shaft strut bolt holes, drilled the holes in the strut AND THEN, cut the hole in the bottom of the boat for the shaft to pass through. BOY WAS THAT SCARY.... put the prop shaft cooling pipe through the hole to check temporary alignment. The shaft was next to be passed through the strut and cooling tube, attached the prop and SMILED..... A lot more work has to be done for the shaft, but the scary part is FINALLY done. I will drill the holes for the strut before sealing the wood, but that is another day's battle.
 
Feeling spunky because it is FINALLY warm enough to work more hours (got up to 50 degrees today YIPPEE) and assembled all the engine parts up in the finish room - man oh man that room is getting FULL. Can't wait to start emptying that room and be on the road to the finish line.....
 
Sorry about all the pictures, but it was a banner day and exhilarating.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4-1-2008 One Piece Left to Go 5:22 PM
The second sponson runner was drilled today. There is only one small piece left to make!!!!!!!!!!
 
I'm thinking about doing the shaft strut tomorrow and the next day. That will be nice to get it done and off my plate of things to do.
 
I still have to trim both sponson runners, but that's only a day's work.

 

 

 

Bolam's Express - Ongoing Progress

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