America de Central

Well I've been working down in Central America along the coast for a couple of months now, and I'm so stoked to finish out this work with a bunch of funds to start voyaging. I mapped out what's left on Beto, and if I work hard it should only take about eight weeks to get her in the water. After starting the project, going through some very heavy life experiences in the middle of it, and finding my drive again, I feel this break is proving very beneficial towards the re-kindling of my Tiki 21 dreams. I came close to posting her up for sale last year, but there would be no point in giving up and making all of the work I've put into her so far meaningless. Adding to my stoke-factor, living on the Caribbean side of Central America to this slower pace, seeing others out actually cruising, has done everything to solidify and inspire me to get Beto on the water. For now I'll just keep renting Hobies and growing the funds...

Gorgeous Water out at the Islands

 

 

Anchored Out

 

There Are Worse Places to Make Money...

Doing a little work before I leave out on the 5th

Well I wheeled Beto out of her current storage room berth to let her have some fresh air. I've been working on sanding the forward decks down smooth and getting the fillets inside/underside of the cabin top done. An orbital sander really need to be purchased at this time! All that's really left on the outsides is fillets along the upper deck stringers and underneath sheerstringers, filling the gap along the keep and rounding it, rounding edges of decks, hatch coamings, and final fairing/epoxy coat for glass. It sounds like a lot, but really shouldn't take toooo long.

I gave the trailer some fresh 12" tires. Beto likes being back outside. 2015 she will be afloat! I decided against windows as it would be just one more area to worry about keeping sealed, and I think it would look a little weird with the dodgers that will be fitted. Still debating on installing a beaching skid along the keel. I also ended up going with 19X24 inch hatch openings to which a sliding hatch will be fitted. A 10" ventilation hatch will be fitted at the forward section of the cabin top. 

Merry Christmas

I have decided not to sell Beto. I can't let life's problems stop the dream! That being said, I'm now looking at a Spring 2015 launch date. I have to work out Of the country all year, but will come back with an enormous cruising kitty, ready to get her finished and get sailing!

 

Current Home for Beto

 

Finished trailer in a day and a half. I'm going to make better cradles eventually, but for now she rolls fine.

Racing against Winter!

Well I finally stopped  nit-picking and got the cabins finished out. I still have to varnish each of the middle sections, but I needed to get on with it. As of right now, both hulls have decks and cabin tops installed. I have to do some interior fillets tomorrow in each, however. The outside is so much easier to work on! I'm hoping to be putting some glass on her within the next week or so. I have to go to two months of work out of town for Oct and Nov, which is really setting me back. Hopefully Beto will be swimming around mid December. If I can get her glassed and mostly faired before Oct 7th, we should be in good shape. Fairing is going to be pretty basic. She is not going to be a showboat or anything! I want to get it on and get sailing. Plans are for forest green topsides and beams, and white decks with grey KiwiGrip non-skid. I feel you never want to rush a boat, though. (Port Cabin Top is not glued down in photos)

  Great lines on these Wharram Boats!

More Progress

I cut out the cabin tops for each hull. I'll have a 10" ventilation hatch forward. I am making a sliding main hatch instead of the standard design with the dimensions of 20"x25". If all goes to plan, I should have the aft decks and cabin tops all installed by this coming Sunday!

Still Working!

Sorry it's been so long since I updated this thing! I've been working during the week and temps have been up around 95 F. I ordered some more slow hardener for the heat, and have been getting a lot done as a result. The forward decks are on, and cabin sides are being installed right now. I'm really trying to get the aft decks on by the end of this week as well. Here are some pics.

 

Looking like a boat!

 

Wharram Logo on inboard cabin side of my hull

 

Bilgekote in anchor lockers. I'm starting to work on the beams as well now.

Been a while

It's been about a month since I updated last. I've started working a ton on the boat trying to get it finished, and now I plan to start updating much more often, perhaps every couple of days. I am more or less set to have the fore and aft decks going on at the end of this week. I have a few things left to do in both hulls in preparation.

I am doing two coats of Interlux Epoxy Primekote and two coats of Bilgekote in each anchor locker. This should be more than adequate protection against anchor chains and wet rodes and anchors. 

 

 

Deck space galore!

 

Two coats of varnish in forward end of berth. I'm varnishing these small compartments ahead of time in preparation for the deck installation. It's not perfect, but I'm happy with a good work boat finish.

 Getting there!

 

 I went ahead and got my shower today at Lowe's for a cheap $14. It will spray a strong mist for over a minute on about six ounces of water. 

I did a delivery across the Gulf of Mexico on a 41' cutter last month. Although some things about a big boat are nice, the ease of handling, small cozy berths, and flat ride of the tiki has me wanting to get it done already!