Tom's Tahoe

[TomB]

Hmm. Ok, I guess I need cupholders. I have the drop in kind. I see a fold down type https://www.rvandvansurplus.com/Folding ... p_229.html and a swing out type https://www.rvandvansurplus.com/Swing-O ... p_231.html. Neel, was this something like what you mentioned? Price range from $4 for a cheap plastic model to $150 for a really snazzy swing out model. (Then there are the power versions like on my old office computer. The IT guy said it was for a compact disk but it held a full size mug just fine. )

I started on the seat to get a feel for the stuff and to help visualize the disconnect switch and cupholder location problem.

I used the band saw to cut the foam, worked very well. I am going to try course grit paper on the RO sander for smoothing.

The seat back will attach with a pair of French cleats and be held down by a couple of pieces of velcro. Pull the bottom of the seat back toward you and then lift for removal.

The seat bottom will be latched at the front. To remove, unlatch and slide it forward about 3" and lift.

The vertical panels for the bench at the rear of the motor have been installed. The bench will have three hatches for access to the water strainer and for storage. There is room to set on the bench on either side of the engine cover with about 12" of seat depth behind the engine. I could put cupholders where they're shown in the photo. A swing out cupholder would go into the vertical face of the bench. A folding cupholder would go onto the base of the armrests.

Tom

[Aussie]

Tom,

To shape the foam I marked on both side of leading edge 1” in,
Cut that off with a bread knife and then used the coarse mesh style sand paper on a rubbing block to round the edges, worked well.

[neel thompson]

Tom... Everything looks great. Those are the exact cup holders I had in my Gentry. You might want to step up a notch or two to get better quality, but they do work and are out of the way when not in use.

[TomB]

It's been a while. Foam and cupholders are on the back burner for now. I've been installing ceilings with some difficulty. Carpet and foam backed fabric take up more space than anticipated making everything very tight. Now its time to put in the helm armrest and the ceiling panel below and then the footrest. Suddenly it occurred to me that the windshield will need to be anchored somehow...behind the ceiling panel. So all is stopped until the windshield gets figured out.

The basic idea is to be similar to a Riva or CC Cobra windshield.

Tom

[TomB]

I used the bill of my cap to make a basic profile and scaled it up to boat size. Then I used a heat gun to bend 1/2" PVC pipe to fit the profile and wrapped it with Ram Board.

The center support is 90* to the profile so the channel for the glass would be square with the profile. My welder neighbor is coming over later in the week to have a look...probably tell me I'm nuts.

Tom

[DrBryanJ]

Tom: She is looking really nice. Good luck with the windscreen. Looks very challenging, but seeing your other work, I'm sure you are up to the task. I'm upholstering panels for the ceilings. How much space would you say I need for material where the panel butts up against something like the frame, 1/8" 1/4"?

[TomB]

Hey Bryan,

I wrapped the ceiling panels with foam backed fabric and stapled the fabric to the backside of the ceiling panels. The panels are notched at the bottom for clearance at the frame gussets and at the top for deck beams. The gussets are carpeted. I allowed 1/8" for each piece of fabric, so at the gussets, carpet and fabric fore and aft and on top of the gusset lead me to size the notch 1/4" larger than the gusset in each direction. Vertically its two layer of carpet, and two layers of fabric reducing the height of the ceiling panel by 4/8". What I didn't account for was any folds in the fabric or carpet. There is a bulkhead at the front and three panels down the side, any error meant an error everywhere. Not being perfect, I have tight spots everywhere. I should have used 5/32" or 3/16". Your milage may vary.

Tom

[DrBryanJ]

Thanks Tom. I will not have any carpeting to deal with only have to worry about around frame gussets and where it butts against the bulkhead and seat bracket. Currently have 1/8" space. I think I'll increase it to 1/4.

[mickfly]

It's inspiring to see the elegant solutions folks come up with to solve problems! That windshield is going to look cool...a perfect fit with the rest of the build.

Mick

[TomB]

Thanks Mick, Not sure about elegant, maybe you meant that for somebody else. The plastic pipe is stiff enough and cheap enough to use and modify until it looks about right.

Got the trailer.

The bow goal post is mounted on the trailer and the winch is mounted on the swing tongue.

We did it that way to make the trailer as short as possible in storage. Technically it fits in the garage, 1 1/2" clear on each side and 1 1/2" clear on each end. Practically it does not fit so the empty trailer will be stored next to the garage. The boat will stay in the shop until spring and then I will have to come to grips with storage.

Tom

[Bluesman]

what trailer did you go with? I can't see the name on it.

[TomB]

It is a custom TrailMaster channel (J.Q. Tex) that I ordered through Macatawa Bay Boat Works. Tom

[Tony Hain]

Tom.
You should take a break for the winter and visit Australia. It's summer here and OH! by the way, you could do my cockpit fit-out.

[TomB]

You should take a break for the winter and visit Australia. It's summer here and OH! by the way, you could do my cockpit fit-out.

Taking a break from winter is a great idea, we are just now getting ice on the water and I am already looking forward to warmer weather. I would love to help on your great build. I can hold the zero end of a tape measure with minimum supervision and I am getting really good at leaning and watching.

Tom