DaveH6
Foredeck ready for fitting and marking
We carried the foredeck from the workshop to the garage with little effort. Wish I had a scale to determine the weight of this torsion box. Of course the light weight of the deck only takes on meaning when marveling at its strength. Walking on Ed 's BJ 27 foredeck I find it solid under foot.
We wrapped a towel around the top of the keel that protudes a few inches above the sheer line. The aft end of the deck was placed on the towel and slid aft as we balanced the deck. A very easy process. Once the deck was in place we ensured that the hatch opening was centered above the anchor locker bulkhead keel line. The crown or centerline of the aft end was postioned equal distant to the port and starboard sheer lines
A pencil line outside of the topside's sheer line was marked on the overhanging foredeck edge.
The deck was removed from the boat, turned upside down on saw horses and via a piece of 9mm plywood, the reference pencil line was moved towards the keel line line to account for the topside thickness.
Via a circular saw set to a depth that wouldn't cut through the 6mm top panel, I removed most of the material outboard of the pencil mark. Via a router and primarily a wood chisel, I cleaned up the remaining material.
Edit 4/16/2012: I purchased a scale and determined that the foredeck weighs 93 lbs.
Foredeck ready for fitting and marking
We carried the foredeck from the workshop to the garage with little effort. Wish I had a scale to determine the weight of this torsion box. Of course the light weight of the deck only takes on meaning when marveling at its strength. Walking on Ed 's BJ 27 foredeck I find it solid under foot.
We wrapped a towel around the top of the keel that protudes a few inches above the sheer line. The aft end of the deck was placed on the towel and slid aft as we balanced the deck. A very easy process. Once the deck was in place we ensured that the hatch opening was centered above the anchor locker bulkhead keel line. The crown or centerline of the aft end was postioned equal distant to the port and starboard sheer lines
A pencil line outside of the topside's sheer line was marked on the overhanging foredeck edge.
The deck was removed from the boat, turned upside down on saw horses and via a piece of 9mm plywood, the reference pencil line was moved towards the keel line line to account for the topside thickness.
Via a circular saw set to a depth that wouldn't cut through the 6mm top panel, I removed most of the material outboard of the pencil mark. Via a router and primarily a wood chisel, I cleaned up the remaining material.
Edit 4/16/2012: I purchased a scale and determined that the foredeck weighs 93 lbs.