It is Cold in Western Washington

 

 

And it’s supposed to get colder before it gets warmer.  I kept my epoxy on the boat last night to keep it warm and it took quite awhile for the trailer to warm up this morning.  Got some epoxy and fiberglass work done though.

I’ve got a day for the trailer again tomorrow so hopefully I can get a little more done.  Tuesday looks very cold so trailer work is probably out.

-steve

A Stitch and Glue Black Tank

I'm using stitch and glue to fabricate the black tank which will sit above the subfloor in the rear curbside bath. It should be a good technique for the tank, especially as it's easy to shape it to fit the Airstream curve. Materials will be a 1/4" plywood core, epoxy, filler and fiberglass cloth. The tank will extend through the bathroom bulkhead and under the bed so the little cleanout sprayer fitting can be hidden.




Yesterday I got the plywood pieces cut out and glued the first layer of 1/8" Baltic birch into a rabbet cut into the 1/4" plywood. The birch will let me make the curve on the sides of the tank. Today the bottom and sides were wired together to hold them in place temporarily for the epoxy.





We've got light snow and cold here for the next few days, so I may not get too far with this until it warms up a bit. The trailer heater warms it up just fine, but I can't keep it on unless we're there, so it really gets cold soaked.  It has to be warm for Pam, so we went to the trailer, turned on the heat, and then ran errands for awhile to let it get warm.  Pam is quite frail now and isn’t walking well, so it’s getting much harder to get out with her.  Worth it, though, as she thought those snow flakes falling today were pretty cool.

-steve

I Have to do Plumbing Pretty Soon

I know I can do it—the system is pretty simple, but I just don’t like plumbing.  But, cabinets are going back in and I know it’ll be much easier to make plumbing runs while those cabinets can still be moved.

So this marks the official beginning of plumbing, still probably to be delayed as much as I can.  The streetside rear corner was originally the outlet for the power cord, but all that stuff is in front now.  I’m using the hole to plumb a cleanout sprayer for the blackwater tank.  The inlet is a Perko marine city water hookup and chrome plated bronze, very nice quality.  I’ll use another one later for the trailer’s city water hookup.

The black tank will sit on top of the subfloor in the rear curbside location of the bath.  I’ll be fabricating the tank using epoxy and fiberglass cloth with stitch and glue techniques.  I’ll start on the tank soon.

Meanwhile refinishing is ongoing with the original bed frame and its nice curved corner the current work in progress.

-steve

The Key to My Trailer

Pam is no longer able to climb into the V berth in the bow that has always been her bed.  I’ve been lifting her up there for several weeks, but finally decided to move her into the main saloon where access is much easier.  Alzheimers doesn’t like changes and boat cats don’t like changes, so let’s just say that last night was not the most restful on our little boat.

Cold, windy, and rainy this morning, but I had respite care for Pam and 6 hours alone to work on the trailer.  I got the 12 volt fan hooked up on the heater and connected the gas line.  And, the work mostly stopped.

It was nice and warm with the fire burning in the heater.  I sat back in one of the recliners with my copy of David Winick’s  Airstreams Custom Interiors and most of my day slipped away.

Guilt made me get a little work done, some sanding and some stripping on the cabinets.  I emptied out the stuff in the drawers in the galley cabinet too and scored a great find.

When I bought Island Girl, the keys could not be found, so I installed a deadbolt and have been using that to lock the door.  But in one of those drawers was this little key that fits the Bargman lock perfectly.

-steve

We Almost Have Heat Again

About a year ago I got the Dickinson Propane Heater installed temporarily so Pam could be comfortable inside and so I could work through the winter.  The wet weather we have this weekend and the look of the forecast means we need it back in again.

Nothing is ever simple.  Since it sticks out more than the Panel Ray it replaces, I needed to get the other big pieces of cabinetry back in, so the bed and galley are inside, with refinishing of them still to go.

 

Tomorrow I’ll get the propane hooked up on the heater and the 12 volt power for the fan that we didn’t have last year.  Then our little fireplace will be permanently installed!

Even though there’s a lot of work still to do on the cabinets, it’s a really big deal to get them back in.  We’re starting to look like a trailer inside again.

-steve

The Recliner Cabinet

is mostly done except for the hinges for the top compartment and the laminate tops over the electrical system area.

The circuit breaker panels for the 110 volt system and the 12 volt system are on opposite sides under the radio.  Front panel is the solar regulator, and it also has the battery voltage readout.

Brissy the boat cat is just starting to get used to the trailer.  She’s not at all happy with car and truck noises outside, though.

Both of the Elfa bins are accessible behind the one panel opening.  The pull is off the original gaucho and matches the other drawers.

Still waiting for hinges to arrive for the top compartment, but they’ll be here shortly.

I spent most of the day today cutting, fitting, sanding, and fitting on the forward bulkhead for the fridge/wardrobe cabinet.  It’s close, but not quite there.

-steve

Big Stuff Goes Back In!!

All the original cabinets moved out of Island Girl about a year and a half ago.  Yesterday was a big step forward with the refrigerator/wardrobe cabinet going back in.  It’s not refinished yet and needs a couple of panels replaced, but it is back in.  Mainly it’s back because I want to reinstall the Dickinson propane heater with cold weather approaching, but it still looks good back inside.

The cabinet for the recliners is nearly done.  Mostly waiting for some hinges to arrive from Lee Valley and for the laminate install.  I have absolutely no idea for color or pattern on that and am just kicking it down the road.

-steve