Project "Blue Venom" (aka "Solent Viper")

[Hightower]

The other things I did today was to finish off the fuel fill moulding and connect the hydraulic steering, with a little help from the Dirk Diggler to show me how blind I am .

The only other thing I did was to give some attention to the Oil Tank and the Famed battery carriers .

First I leveled the deck but lowing the ball hitch right to the floor and jacking up the rear of the trailer. (see pic)

Then I fixed the carriers to the required positions with self tapping screw.

Next I shuttered the outside of the frame with plasticene and mixed up some resin, this I poured into the frame and allowed to level out with the desired results (see pic).

This afternoon I flowcoated everything....I know that some of you said don't flowcoat the alloy, but I couldn't resist anyway it looks

The reson I floated an epoxy mix under and over the frame work was that the self tappers I used where a little on the short side because of a fear of breaching the fuel tank under the deck. I wanted to make sure the batteries would never move.

The Oil tank wasn't staight forward either as I had to mount it on a wooden base to spead the load when fixing it to the deck.

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by Hightower

and the Famed battery carriers .

Hmm, those battery boxes look familiar, but why have you got a top mounted to the floor, and why aren't they anodised or powdercoated?

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

Hi Andy,

taking shape , looking good

When you hope to stick it on the water ???

mustnt be too far away !!!!!

Paul

I'm hoping with all things being equal and a good dose of fine weather I should be in a position in having the engine PDIed in two weeks or so.

Just have to get the stainless sorted and decide who's gonna get the upholstery.

Thanks for you fine comments, have a good holiday?

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Hmm, those battery boxes look familiar, but why have you got a top mounted to the floor, and why aren't they anodised or powdercoated?

Cause I'm a self confessed cheep skate

It should do the job fine and will be out of sight in the depths of the console.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Looking sweet Andy.

You really are a lucky sod, new boat etc, and the bits you are doing now are the stuff I really enjoy.
Bet you are going to wire it up next, I find that strangely satisfying.
Sad bugger aren't I?

Nasher.

You're more than welcome to come over and have a fix, if you like

Well next job is to fit a compartment in the console with a foot well access to some storage and the isolater switch. Wiring will come very soon after.

[Chris]

Andy what height is you anti ventilation plate set against the bottom of the transom?

Chris

[Hightower]

Well, it was meant to be 2" and if you take a look at this photo then it seems to confirm this (looks 2" from top of a 25" transom).

However If I take a straight edge from the underside of the cav plate it seems level with the bottom of the hull . Obviously if the engine is in a different trim angle I get a different result, but have tried to measure this height by guesstamating the correct trim angle whist on the plane and it look level, I'm not goting to panick just yet though, I'll see what she does in the water.

[Neal]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Looking sweet Andy.

You really are a lucky sod, new boat etc, and the bits you are doing now are the stuff I really enjoy.
Bet you are going to wire it up next, I find that strangely satisfying.
Sad bugger aren't I?

Nasher.

If it makes you that happy i can drop mine off with you and you can spend the whole winter working on it

[Hightower]

I had a very busy day, however I haven't got much to show for my efforts.

I was doing loads of silkaflexing of hatches etc.

I did however finish off cutting all the holes in the console today, the gauges haven't been fitted yet, just layed in the holes for the purpose of the picture.

You can also see that I have fitted a rectangle hatch in the footwell, this is to access the isolator switch and to mount a fire extinguisher inside.

There was loads of fibreglass dust everywhere so at the end of the day I hosed everything off and am pleased to report that the though seat drain I installed a couple of weeks back is doing it's job just fine.

[Limey Linda]

Great pics. HOWEVER!!!. what are those spindly little rails doing there? Oh! just realised they are to stop your cuppa or sunglasses from rolling off the console at low speed.

[Nauti Buoy]

Originally Posted by Hightower

I had a very busy day, however I haven't got much to show for my efforts.

I was doing loads of silkaflexing of hatches etc.

I did however finish off cutting all the holes in the console today, the gauges haven't been fitted yet, just layed in the holes for the purpose of the picture.

You can also see that I have fitted a rectangle hatch in the footwell, this is to access the isolator switch and to mount a fire extinguisher inside.

There was loads of fibreglass dust everywhere so at the end of the day I hosed everything off and am pleased to report that the though seat drain I installed a couple of weeks back is doing it's job just fine.

Andy,

Looking very smart indeed, nicely balanced dash, I think you've done yourself proud. Can't be too long now before you go for your first blast.

Credit to you.

[Chris]

Andy you might find that people use those rails as grab rails without thinking?

Chris

[Hightower]

When the console is finished there'll be a screen and grab rail all the way around it comming down either side of the console. There'll also be a grab rail in front of the glove box for the passengers to hang onto. The little rail is actually very strong and I've been using this myself the last couple of weeks to board her, 6mm solid stainless with 8mm round head bolts welded on. I made this myself, so know it's well made

[Chris]

fair enough

[mdt]

so you did not bother with the second remote mic for the VHF?

PS: Looks very smart, you just need to get it all wet now.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by mdt

so you did not bother with the second remote mic for the VHF?

PS: Looks very smart, you just need to get it all wet now.

Well I couldn't really justify putting the command mic on. The reson for replacing my Silva S10 with the Standard Horizon unit was that I hated the push button volume and channel controls and like rotory knobs.

I did originaly want to mount the main VHF in the console because of fear of getting the console too cluttered but as the Command mic was thrown in the deal and has push buttons, plus the dash looks OK, I'm not too bothered not to use it.

The aim is to take her on the November Solent Cruise, so fingers crossed

[Zippy]

great work andy!!!


credit to you!!

how far have we come since we firest met!!!

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by Hightower

The aim is to take her on the November Solent Cruise, so fingers crossed

Andy,
What November Solent Cruise?
Cheers

Neil

[Hightower]

The one you're organising of course Neil

[Hightower]

The whole dash is in now, just have to do the wiring bit to finish it off (that makes wiring sound easy ). The Carbon Fibre trim the dials are nestled in was from Red Bull Racing, the finish was matt, but with a bit of laquer I was able to make it look quite respectible again, I have enough left over to do some other trimming jobs later in the build.

I also drilled a massive hole in the transom today to accomodate the bilge pump outlet.

The latest photo's: