Euro12 Aft Cockpit - FOR SALE
Making a start
Plan, plan and plan, and then make a new plan. After carefully selecting the boat design that suits you and deciding to build from steel, have your complete material list delivered to the build site. |
Some design choices:
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It's best to have the materials delivered "cut to size" as this can be done on a precision plasma cutting table and all the pieces arrive accurately cut to size with no scrap waste. The time saved from having to cut by hand is well worth the cost of this cutting service.
Steel delivery
Your delivery arrives at the build site as one truck driver describe it to me, as a pile of shrapnel.
It looks like a giant thousand piece Jigsaw puzzle in no particular order, which is the first task, unload and search through every item. Stacking them in order of last piece required on the bottom. This task takes 4-5 days with the use of a fork truck and a large concrete yard, sifting through 12ton of steel plate, this is also a good check of all the pieces to be sure there all accounted for. |
Among the thousand piece puzzle should be the frame work support structure used to build the boat upon, thus keeping it off the ground. Using I-beams to tie theses supports together helps by having a strong foundation to work on and helps when having to move the boat out of the workshop.
This system of building, which is right side up, I find the best.
The traditional boat build method would be upside down which means after the hull skin goes around the frame work the boat must be turned right side up for install of decks and saloon or cockpit. Turning a boat can be a tricky task requiring lifting equipment such as cranes and chain fall with lift gantry. It's possible of course but designers like Bruce Roberts design their boats to be built "right side up" avoiding having to turn over what could be a 14ton hull, a big advantage in my opinion and a money saver.
This system of building, which is right side up, I find the best.
The traditional boat build method would be upside down which means after the hull skin goes around the frame work the boat must be turned right side up for install of decks and saloon or cockpit. Turning a boat can be a tricky task requiring lifting equipment such as cranes and chain fall with lift gantry. It's possible of course but designers like Bruce Roberts design their boats to be built "right side up" avoiding having to turn over what could be a 14ton hull, a big advantage in my opinion and a money saver.
Support cradle in place and away we go!
Lifting the hull plates, bulkheads and frames into the cradle requires lifting equipment but the largest of the plates weights just half a ton (500kg) so fork truck and chain fall with lift supports is all that's required.
Following the design assemble drawings and working to a planned sequence is good management but having the skill and experience of working with steel is invaluable, tack welding, using scotch plates & wedges, dressing weld seems, rigging for lifts, welding lifting lugs, using chain fall & come-along, gouging & polishing weld seems, it's a craft in it's self the trade of Fitter-Welder (steel fabricator). |
It's hard work, lots of sweat, dirt and noise along with climbing and confined space. All going to plan in a short time the image of the boat becomes a reality. Progress is swift and the boat takes shape by the day, growing steadily.
Welding
Welding
And of course the welding must be of good quality and verified by NDT specialist. (NDT Non-destructive testing).
Stage 1 - Final tasks
Stage 1 - Final tasks
The final tasks in stage 1 are:
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