Now on to setting floor members or sole members or whatever the proper term is.
Although a bit hard to see right now, the pics are pretty explanatory. There are basically 4 different elevations,
namely: The after deck, main cabin/engine room (which has two angle iron rails running from station 6 to station
14), Pilot house floor and the front storage area. I'll refrain from calling the latter a forward state room as some of
the plans sellers do on other boats of similar length and beam :). It's enough room fore of the pilot house to stow
some gear or install a large fuel oil tank, and that's about it.
Istalling all of these floor members was a rather laborious task, crawling inside either between the chines or under
the gunwale and laying them out then taking them to the plasma burner and then coming back to reinstall. I first
started cutting them with the metabo, I quickly changed to the plasma burner, it was about a hundred times faster.
In the pic below, it's easy to see why I wanted to install these now. Having the strongback to fit off of. Kept them all
in a good plane stem to stern. Not sure precision ground blocks were required :), "when in Rome" as they say..
Although a bit hard to see right now, the pics are pretty explanatory. There are basically 4 different elevations,
namely: The after deck, main cabin/engine room (which has two angle iron rails running from station 6 to station
14), Pilot house floor and the front storage area. I'll refrain from calling the latter a forward state room as some of
the plans sellers do on other boats of similar length and beam :). It's enough room fore of the pilot house to stow
some gear or install a large fuel oil tank, and that's about it.
Istalling all of these floor members was a rather laborious task, crawling inside either between the chines or under
the gunwale and laying them out then taking them to the plasma burner and then coming back to reinstall. I first
started cutting them with the metabo, I quickly changed to the plasma burner, it was about a hundred times faster.
In the pic below, it's easy to see why I wanted to install these now. Having the strongback to fit off of. Kept them all
in a good plane stem to stern. Not sure precision ground blocks were required :), "when in Rome" as they say..
My Steamboat Project Link to steamboat show
The Steam tug "Salty" built from Reliable Steams' plans Page 9
The Steam tug "Salty" built from Reliable Steams' plans Page 9
That's all the floor members in and now I'll go back in and weld up what I can. Still have to weld in the load bearing
beams, I don't have the material on hand for that, should get it this week some time. I'll move on to the stringers
on the next page (Page 10) (not completed)
beams, I don't have the material on hand for that, should get it this week some time. I'll move on to the stringers
on the next page (Page 10) (not completed)
In the pics below, this is how all of these were installed. All butt welding, no lap joints anywhere..
And right on down goes the rest of the after deck, rear cockpit, foc'sle, rear deck, back porch, whatever it's called :)
These are 2-1/2" above the supposed water line.
When I flip this thing, it will be a huge plus to have all these in, where I can lay temporary plywood while I weld the
interior. A lot better work surface than crawling around on the ribs.
Then the short members on both sides that will butt up to the load bearing stringers.
These are 2-1/2" above the supposed water line.
When I flip this thing, it will be a huge plus to have all these in, where I can lay temporary plywood while I weld the
interior. A lot better work surface than crawling around on the ribs.
Then the short members on both sides that will butt up to the load bearing stringers.
