Jersey Girl

Houseboat update, Tuesday, April 23, 2019 -- Jersey Girl's aft deck forest sprouts four more new roof support posts, clamped in place and ready to be permanently fastened. That will be 10 in all, and then I will be able to start roofing that section and installing the aft cabin bulkhead (wall) and door. Things are really moving along now!

Houseboat update, Wednesday, April 24, 2019 -- Jersey Girl gets fitted for aft deck roof beams. This is just temporary, to see how things fit and mark parts up for final trimming. The horizontal planks are part of the longitudinal "riser" that will run the length of the aft deck roof and the cabin, defining the elevated central portion of the roof, above the arched "shoulders" on both sides. Now that this part of Jersey Girl has gone vertical, I am somewhat at the mercy of the weather until I get a roof over it.

Houseboat update, Thursday, April 25, 2019 -- Another warm, sunny spring day means I get to make some progress on Jersey Girl. Today, I permanently fastened risers and roof beams, tying the four central posts of the aft deck into a single, unified, solid structure. Next chance I get, I will be giving the same treatment to the six side posts, three on each side, to support the aft deck roof "shoulders." As I worked today, I became aware of a luscious, extravagantly sweet aroma. The lilacs have started to bloom. Tra-la. It's always been my favorite time of my favorite season of the year, for as long as I can remember.

Houseboat update, Monday, April 29, 2019 -- After a couple of rainy days, I caught a break with the weather and managed to add two support beams to the aft deck roof. These beams define the shape of the starboard "shoulder" that will continue forward over the enclosed cabin as well. Of course, there will be an identical shape over the port side as well. In addition, I started milling tongue-and-groove roofing boards today, first by ripping 10-inch common grade pine, knots and all, into three-inch planks. Then, I machined the tongue part into one edge of each plank and the groove into the other edge. Because of the arched shape of the roof, it's actually a little more complicated than what I've described. I will have to run each board over the router table a third time, to bevel the bottom side of the groove. That will allow a bit of relief to allow the boards to snug into each other as they bend around the arch. From the top, after the are all installed, they'll be sanded into a smooth, continuous curve. From inside the cabin, there will be a V-shaped groove at the joint between each plank, for an attractive "old cottage" look. In the old days, before routers, IO would have used a "combination plane" with a specially machined cutting iron to produce the shape I wanted.

Houseboat update, Tuesday, April 30, 2019 -- First things first: after a night and morning of drenching rain, the lilacs are in full bloom. Nothing signifies springtime so much as the sweet aroma of these sadly short-lived flowers. And, yes, the rain also gave me an opportunity to brush up on my bailing skills. But to the main point at hand -- I am starting to fit the aft cabin bulkhead in the starboard side! I will finish cutting it today, but before I install it I will have to sand it and give it a couple of protective coats of epoxy on both sides. That will take at least two more days, probably three. I’ll probably shop for a couple of used ship portholes for the aft and port sides to break up the solid expanse of wood separating the head and galley from the aft deck