The sprint is on to launch in Summer 2023. While there’s not much left to do relative to the entire scope of the project, there’s still a lot to do. The latest work deals with rebuilding the under-cockpit floors and related structures. One picture can’t capture the complete picture of the under-cockpit area, but this photo from long ago is a reminder that at one time the area was totally gutted, with the engine moved forward.

Being under the cockpit is an athletic event rivaled only by being in the anchor locker up forward. The floor structure requires floor beams, and I started by making a template for the aft-most beam.

The beam was laminated out of two thicknesses of 5/8-inch marine plywood. The floor-beam structure naturally exists at the level of the stringers, so I made that happen by screwing strips of plywood to the ends and resting them on the stringers while I epoxied the beam into place.

The forward beam attaches to the bulkheads that flank the engine, and this beam can be removed for better access to the engine. The image below also shows a pattern I’ve made for a floorboard.

Additional blocking (not shown) supports the floorboard where it meets a bulkhead, and the curved side rests on the stringer. It’s held down by two screws. You can also see here a pattern being made for more floorboards.

Similar work on the starboard side:

The templates above were use do make two more floorboard, which makes four in sum. I was sitting on the port side of the under-cockpit area for the photo below, and aimed the camera starboard.

The photo above shows that there is a gap in the floor along the centerline. Previously the fuel tank was under the cockpit sole, and also the batteries just aft of the fuel tank. Now there will be nothing, so no floor is needed here, but I need to wall off the area so fender, lines, and whatever else is stored in the cockpit lockers can’t find its way to engine components or the steering system.

Walling off the forward side began with additional blocking to which a wall will attach.

This wall extends the width of the engine compartment, and you can see yet another block. This block will support one end of a fore-aft wall, as you’ll see.

Below are the fore-aft walls under construction. The one on the port side keeps stuff in the port locker from shifting starboard and the one of the starboard side performs a similar duty.

The tricky walls are the two that prevent stuff from finding its way into the steering cables, quadrant, etc. Below is the template for the one on the starboard side. This wall will attach to a knee (left-side in photo) and the aft end of the starboard-side fore-aft wall (right-side low in photo).

Here is the the wall installed:

Finally, two gaps need to be filled to finish walling off the engine room. First there was blocking (shown) and templating (not shown):

And then the gaps were filled:

These under-cockpit areas are spacious and easily disassembled for access to engine, stuffing box, steering, etc. The next task will be to take everything apart and store it. At one point it will all be painted and reassembled, but for now there is work to do on the engine and other systems that require good access.