Voyageur Sailing

Voyageur Build Log - Interior woodwork

This was our log 'as written' as we built Voyageur.

We are in the midst of building Voyageur from scratch.
Read about how we are doing it below. The newest logs appear at the top.
navigation station salon table hobby table stateroom seat and dresser
DATE:
Jan 3, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR
Prior to final installation of the boat furniture, the inside of the hull must be insulated with spray foam down to the waterline. Cold Ontario winters are not the ideal time for this application process. With the cabin sole installed, we spend time fitting the boat’s cabinetry. Photos from left to right show the navigation station, the salon table, the hobby table and the master stateroom’s seat and dresser sections. It’s amazing to see the cold aluminum hull gradually becoming an inviting interior.

DATE:
May 8, 2009
TEMP:
21.9°C

As we paint and finish minor improvements on our house, we must move all the boat woodwork out of the living room. So we are busy varnishing cabinets and the cabin sole of the boat to protect the wood as it gets relocated to other storage facilities. Here we have temporarily installed some of the woodwork of the forward cabin.

The aft stateroom is starting to take shape with the two stern port lights installed and plywood in place for the queen size bed. Although most of the boat will be sprayed with foam down to the waterline, the walls around the aft bunk are insulated with 1 ½ “ foil backed insulation. The insulation fits neatly between the aluminum framing and minimized the carving and mess associated with spray foam in thin walls.
Cherry wood framing for the cabinets is being installed around the base of the bunk.

The galley wall cabinet and fridge have been temporarily installed to help check clearances for mechanical and electrical services that will run beside and under the cabinet and fridge. Cabinets will be removed to allow the spray foam to be installed behind. The fiberglass fridge liner will have 6” of foam sprayed directly on it.

An assembly consisting of the Bomar port light, cherry plywood and framing and rubber gaskets has been used, which will facilitate the wall finish that will be installed later.
The forward stateroom is being outfitted with bunk beds. This allows for extra floor and storage space. It also makes for better sleeping arrangements when running courses with unrelated people sharing a stateroom.
All this woodwork is occupying the living room of our house. We look forward to moving it into the boat after the lead is poured in the keel.

In the passageway to the aft cabin we are constructing a work table that will be used for various tasks. It is opposite the engine room door making it handy to carry out mechanical repairs, but mostly it will be used as a sewing center. The lower cabinet houses various woodworking tools as well as 2 sewing machines. Yes…. two! One machine will be used for canvas and sail work, while the other machine is for the finer general sewing.

The large navigation/office table starts to take shape, waiting for drawers and lifting desk top. More handholds are visible along the inside edge of the table.
Looking from what will be the aft end of the boat you can see the framing for the wet locker in the foreground.

The companionway ladder has been fabricated with solid cherry steps with raised half round maple inlays to prevent slipping off. The sides of the steps have been angled to make climbing easier when the boat is heeling.

It is impossible to find an efficient fridge/freezer that will fit neatly into the awkward spaces in a sailboat. So the solution is to mold one out of fiberglass to your exact requirements. It has been designed to be top loading with double gasket lids. We have opted to have 3 separate lids to provide full access to food but minimize heat loss when opening it up.

One of the galley wall cabinets has been fabricated ready to be varnished. The back of the cabinet has been contoured to fit the shape of the hull. The cabinet will be attached to aluminum taps that are welded to the hull framing.

The first interior piece to be fabricated was the saloon table. The table top is in 3 pieces. The permanent center pedestal is 14”x50” and the folding leaves are 21”x50” each. The entire top and base are solid cherry with maple inlays. The aft end of the pedestal has 3 drawers for utensils and table supplies, while there is access to the center of the pedestal through a top hinged panel. Stainless steel fiddles on the center portion also act as grab rails when traveling past the table.

You can see that the teak and holly plywood sole has been cut, fit and ready to install in the boat.