Aluminum Catamaran Build: Progress and Key Installations (Pt 54)

Flooring and Cabinetry Installation

• 💡 The team successfully glued down the flooring permanently, making the galley area solid and walkable again.
• 🛠️ Cabinet makers Steve and Steve are meticulously crafting and fitting custom pieces, with a focus on millimeter-accurate measurements for the port and starboard cabins.
• 🧩 Caz is deeply involved in the woodwork, ensuring templates and measurements are precise for the cabin paneling.

Electrical and Plumbing Systems

• 🔌 Over a kilometer of wire is being run throughout the boat, a crucial step before cabinets are installed.
• 💧 Systems like the gray water pump for the shower/sink and air conditioning condensation lines are being plumbed and wired.
• ⚡ Various wire sizes are being used, determined by their specific use and the amount of power they need to carry, from small LED wires to larger cables for AC outlets and DC controllers.
• 🧰 A 40mm conduit is being utilized to pull multiple essential wires for the oven, induction cooktop, hot water boiler, galley outlets, and air conditioning.

Air Conditioning and Electrical Components

• 💨 The installation of five air conditioning fan coil units is underway, each with shutoff valves for individual unit maintenance.
• 🧊 These units function as heat exchangers, providing cool air, with condensation pans routed to the gray water system.
• 🌡️ Insulation will be applied to valves and pipes after leak testing to prevent condensation.
• 💡 Different wire gauges are used for various components, such as 3mm² for fans and spotlights, and a larger 12-gauge wire for AC circuits requiring hot, neutral, and ground.

Major Panel Installations and Finishing Touches

• ✨ The chamfer panel, a significant structural and aesthetic component, is being prepared for installation, featuring black walnut veneer detailing.
• 🚪 A large panel for the guest cabin is being fitted, carefully avoiding joints for a seamless look.
• 🎨 The inboard panel is complete and will be sent for professional painting, with a lead time of approximately four weeks.
• ✅ The chamfer panel is now glued in permanently, serving as a foundation for further cabinet and robe installations.

Volunteer Contributions and Project Momentum

• 🤝 Mark and Michelle, retired volunteers from Canada, have significantly contributed to sanding, grinding, and pulling wires, bringing fresh energy to the build.
• 🔊 Speaker and LED wires are being soldered, with each speaker featuring integrated LEDs and a surrounding LED ring.
• 🌊 Spray foam is being used to fill voids behind newly installed components, ensuring structural integrity and sound dampening.
• 🎉 The team expresses immense pride and gratitude for the progress made, highlighting the collaborative effort and the feeling of things finally coming together.