The boarding of the aft deck is now complete and looking very good, though I say so myself! Next, it needs sealing and glassing so I can progress to the cabin ends, sides and main deck. We'll see if I can get that done by the Christmas holidays......

As the title suggests, it was Thank You Patrons Day yesterday. You know, the people who support this project in any way - be it by watching YouTube ads, donations via the tips jar here, buying music tracks, buying challenge coins, or Patreon patronage - never cease to amaze me. What wonderful people you all truly are! I took the opportunity to say thank you to patrons, but didn't want to restrict that. So I put a post out on Instagram and released this video (below) to say thank you in a way that seemed to fit what it is I actually do - build boats and release videos (mainly)

This week's episode is mainly about the fitting of the first layer of the aft deck. I share a couple of thoughts about life, boatbuilding and everything at the end. It's getting chilly....

It was a bit of a bits and pieces week, this week. The engine mounting adaptor plates are now finished and being painted and the engine bed got its first rough trim to fit the rocker of the hull. But, the progres that is most noticeable is on the aft deck, where the first layer of decking has now been fitted. The compound curve of the aft deck has come out well, and the curving upswept nature pleasingly reminds me of the aft end of China Cloud - one of my very favourite boats.

Here's the latest in the video series :-)

My secondhand clamping ring for the saildrive hull seal finally arrived in the week. This enabled me to do some last checks on the engine height on the engine bed and make some adjustments to the engine mounting adaptor plates.

Once that was complete, it was time to get the engine in the boat. The thing weighs something in excess of 100kg, so it's no easy matter to lift it in. Coupled with that, comes the lack of room in the boatshed, making the use of heavy lifting equipment rather tricky. In the end, Kerry and I got it in there with a block and tackle set up, and it now sits close to the position where it'll be propelling the boat through the waters at some future point :-)

Naturally, we recorded it all for prosperity :-)