For inboard boats it will be permanently fitted and you won't see the join!

Engines are test fitted now!

Very nice,.........does the bilge get a finish coat of Awlgrip to whiten,brighten, and make cleaning easy? :drink:

You have to be getting excited!

Jon

Maybe some topcoat - it is a race boat after all - got to keep the weight down!

The two front seat bases are done - they will have aluminium side plates for mounting the seats - they are being fabricated at the moment.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/P3230609.jpg

Plenty of room to pass between the seats.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/P3230608.jpg

The recesses are for the 3 litre pony bottles that each crew member has to have in case of inversion, there will be a pipe up to a demand valve which will be clipped to the lifejacket - two more seat are going onto the back of these for the rear crew members.

We are having a Throttleman, Driver and Navigator, the fourth seat is reserved for press, sponsors and hangers on!

Cookie,

Lookin good, are you still planning on having supension on your seats? I know at one point in this thread you talked on making your own.

The bar coming down behind the seat, is that composite tube or metal?
how is it tied into the side of the boat so it doesn't push though with wear and tear in big seas?

Thanks
Jon

Jon - The development on the suspension seats is on hold while we finish the boat - that is the next project!

The bar coming down is plastic square pipe (for guttering) and with a woven laminate over it giving it strength. There is a large balsa pad on the side of the hull spreading the load. You can see them in the shot of the two seats.

Are they close enough to the seats where they can bang their Helmets on them?

We have plenty of clearance - Been in Africa for two weeks - but there was some work going on in my absence!

The mould for the air intake extensions in place - this will form part of the air intake system that will prevent the engine compartment filling with water - only air.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/P4180620.jpg

The drivers dashboard is finished and ready for fitting out before final fitting to the boat. Gear/throttle levers will be mounted on the horizontal panel to the side of the driver and the recess is for a fire extinguisher. The vertical panel will hold the switch panel and navigation repeaters.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/P4180619.jpg

The throttle mans dashboard will be a mirror image of the drivers side with throttles, trim, engine switches and data panel as well as MNEA 2000 repeaters capable of showing all engine data as well as navigation data. Trim indicator will stick out of the top of the dash. Air bottles fit under the seat - one for each occupant. Don't worry they won't be pink forever!

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/P4180618.jpg

The boat is "left hand drive" for a very good reason - the throttle man needs to be right handed and if the throttles were in the middle they would be in the way of everything. The gear/throttles beside the driver are for leaving and entering port and leisure use.

Cookie,

Very Nice as always,..........
Whats the tunnel coming from under the seat and going under the foot board for?


Hope Africa was fun!

Thanks
Jon

That's the seat base - the rear seat bases joins up to the forward one making an internal structure for extra stiffening - they will also house the individual air supplies for each crew member - the fire extinguishers will go in the recess in the rear of the main dashboard unit accessible from the front or rear seats.

Zimbabwe was great fun - met lots of new family (long story) and saw a great deal of game - even went on a boat trip (85')