Stern Stairs and Pilot House

Dry fitting the front windows.

A few of the eighth-of-an-inch panels needed to be replaced. This was done in the same way that the skins were originally fabricated, using a laminating technique called vacuum-bagging. The replacement panels are glued on, a sheet of plastic is taped over the patch and a shop vac pulls the air out, clamping the sheets together.

Note: The duct tape in the pictures is part of the vacuum bag, not the patch….

“Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the Earth.”

It is the kind of statement that embodies the spirit of human determination and ingenuity. It’s the same determination that says “We will put a man on the moon by the end of this decade.” Or more modestly, “We will put a ferry on Lake Victoria by the end of this year.”

Often, such grandiose aspirations are comprised of smaller, though no less grandiose, challenges. Last Friday it was the rolling of the first 3500lb hull of our second ferry to expose the keel for some much needed tlc

In addition to a place to stand, Albert required a forklift and Andrew. A chain and pulley substituted for the lever and fulcrum. The cradles constructed for this purpose back in June worked out swell.

Then it was time for a celebratory game of break-time basketball.