Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Installing Bunks

I'm now in the process of installing the bunk sections in the port hull. These have taken quite a bit of time to prepare, due to the need to finish the lift-out hatch sections and the bearers they rest on before installation, as well as applying two coats of epoxy to the underside of all these parts before installation. I now have the two forward sections in the main sleeping area forward of bulkhead three glued down and the preliminary fillets made. The section in the area of the companionway, between bulkheads 2 and 3 is also glued in, and the aft section is ready to go in as soon as I finish detailing the fillets below bunk level in this area. The photos below show the bunk sections, and the access hatch openings and covers.

This is the area between bulkheads 3 and 4, with the added floor section visible below.


The same section, looking aft, at this point the companionway area bunk section is not fitted.


Here are the two forward bunk access hatch covers. They simply drop in place on the bearers that are glued under the opening edges. A 1-inch diameter finger hole in each cover allows easy removal.


Looking forward at the two forward bunk sections, from the companionway area.



This is the section in the companionway area, which is mainly used as a sitting area with a wet locker/footwell below. The floor access panel I mentioned before is also visible here, allowing storage of small items right down into the V of the hull. Note that I did not cut this sitting section out in an oval, as shown in the plans, but instead made an opening with parallel sides and bearers under the edges, similar to the bunk access hatch openings. The reason is to allow for a removable, sliding section that can be used to fill part of this opening, depending on the sitting position needed, or to extend the length of the aft or forward bunk, if needed.

Here is the sliding section. The corners are rounded to match the opening, so it can be used at either end of the hatch cutout. This is another idea borrowed from the Tiki 30.





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