Building the "Heart of Gold" - Done 3/9/2014

[drewh1]

The front cabinets look great, I can't wait to put the doors on with the hinges and latches.

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The front curve looks sweet!

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There are a ton of little things that have to be adjusted so it all fits right. It is really good I did a trial run otherwise, it would have been a mess!

Then I'll take it apart, polyurethane it, glue it and screw it, and start wiring. I have already put together my shopping list and picked out most of my lights. One sort of major screw up is I didn't leave enough space on the roof for a high wattage solar panel, so I might have to settle for something smaller.

[KCStudly]

Your progress and craftsmanship are impressive!

The method of building the roof and skinning the ceiling as a separate unit (like you, Aggie79/Tom and others have done) seems to be the way to do a "traditional".

For the solar panel, consider a portable folding unit; that way you can locate it in the sun, and, if the campsite provides for it, locate the TD in the shade. You can also chase the sun with the moveable panel much more easily than with a fixed panel on the roof. To me, having a panel on the roof would take away from the graceful appearance of a shapely TD.

I just ordered a portable panel here, and from what I am hearing it is a good performing unit at a decent price; controller and wire leads included. I suspect that the controller and leads are "entry level", but it seems like a good way to get started to me and if desired can be upgraded to more efficient hardware later. (I'll share my impressions on TPCE thread once I receive mine.)

Keep up the great work.

[drewh1]

Hey, thanks KC. I do think forming the ceiling separately was the way to go. Tomorrow I am putting on the polyurethane and I am sure that will be so much easier with it laying on the floor (rather than painting upside down).

and about the solar panel, I agree about the panel messing up the lines. But don't you worry about a portable unit getting stolen if it is just dangling off the wires in your campsite?

drew.

[KCStudly]

Well, I do plan on being "out there"... way out there, and I don't expect to be running in to too many other people.

If we leave camp for any length of time I have the option of locking it up.

Others have made racks that they can attach their portable panels to the TD, if desired, and I suppose those could be made more secure, but I feel that having the portability, as an option at least, is preferred. We'll see. UMMV.

[drewh1]

super happy with the way the front cabinet turned out - I think the Galley cabinets will look nice too when done. Gonna install it all this weekend!

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[KCStudly]

Ooh, that's tasty good!

[drewh1]

Thanks! checked out that crazy pumpin launcher on your build journal, Now that is quite a project. Glad to hear your back to work on your foamie.

[Ron Dickey]

You make it all look simple. Nice job so far.

Ron
Los Osos, CA

[drewh1]

Thanks Ron - I can assure that nothing has seemed simple. I just don't post all the cursing and photos of my dumb ass mistakes.

I have developed a great deal more patience doing this project though. Whenever I go to fast and don't think about what I am doing, kapow!

Someday when we meet up on the road in California, I'll show you all the blunders.

drew.

[jeporter25]

Looking great Drew!

[drewh1]

I have been down with a flu all week. I couldn't work so I did some planning. How is this for "old school"! I am planning out the hatch support (Camp-inn style)
I am going to frame this drawing when it is all done.

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I did assemble my project last week. It all went together after a few adjustments. So now I am working on wiring and will build the hatch soon.

[drewh1]

Progress! The inside is complete, cabinets are done and installed. I used a piece of Purple heartwood to trim out the shelf and cabinet in the back. Wish I had done some trim on the front cabinet too. I will probably integrate some into the galley. Fortunately, I also remember to drill holes for wiring BEFORE I installed the cabinets, made it a lot easier. There are lots of small mistakes , mostly not visible but a few will probably need some corrective work

I still need to finish the counter portion of the galley and may do that next, or may work on wiring.

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[kayakdlk]

Looking great. Only you will notice those "lots of small mistakes "

My experience on anything I have built is if you do no point them out to anyone they will never know.

[PKCSPT]

I'd never know the mistakes, that is looking really nice.

[drewh1]

Happy Thanksgiving - a couple of days to work on the project.

Got the hatch framed over the last two days! this feels like a big step forward. For the hatch, I laminated two 3/4" pieces with some 1/8" birch to make the side pieces. Everything is 2" X 1 1/2 and dado'ed. I assembled, glued and screwed in place. Feels solid as a rock .

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Now I am working on this hatch latch - I am using the 3 way and think it is going to work great once everything is lined up.

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