Raven's Nest update 12/28/2021

[Staryder61]

Nom, nom, nom. That looks delish'!!!

Oh KC, it was,, I'm happy to say The bacon not only keeps the brisket from burning on the out side. It helps a great deal to seal in the juices, with the fat from the bacon adding to the brisket flavor.. turned out so tender and juicy...

[Staryder61]

I only went that one time to test it out, after that my dad had a stroke and so I've been busy taking are of him and trying to understand Medicare in all it's complexities. He was fortunate to be able to move his body again but his real weakness is in his cognitive ability. I hope to be able to do a weekender as soon as possible.

So sorry to hear about your Dad clam.... Our thoughts are with you and your family.. I can relate on a personal level, unlike you dealing with your Dad. The role here is in reverse, I had to have brain surgery a few years ago because of a major aneurysm. Though the surgery was a success, and I'm still here. The surgery was very intrusive and I have been left with residual affects sort of mimicking a stroke.. Still having problems with cognitive and physical abilities.. We are not the only victims.. our families give up so much taking care of us.. loving us so much through it all.. and oh yes the Medicare,, WOW!!!!

Deciding to build this camper was a major deal for me.. not sure if I would or could finish it. Which is why it seems to me it's taking longer than expected. But I needed to do it for myself as much as doing it for my wife and I to just enjoy. I forget things a lot in the middle of doing them, have to stop and take time to rethink what I was doing. Then there's those days I can barely get out of bed, let alone work on something like the camper. Things that I used to take for granted, like using some tools, is very hard for me now.. But hey, I'm doing it.. And I have my family to Thank for all they did and do to help me through it all.. Your Dad is lucky to have you to take care of him... you ever just need to vent, send me an email,, I'd be more then happy to listen.. or talk things through with you, if it'd help.. Hang in there friend... David

[clamlamp]

I only went that one time to test it out, after that my dad had a stroke and so I've been busy taking are of him and trying to understand Medicare in all it's complexities. He was fortunate to be able to move his body again but his real weakness is in his cognitive ability. I hope to be able to do a weekender as soon as possible.

So sorry to hear about your Dad clam.... Our thoughts are with you and your family.. I can relate on a personal level, unlike you dealing with your Dad. The role here is in reverse, I had to have brain surgery a few years ago because of a major aneurysm. Though the surgery was a success, and I'm still here. The surgery was very intrusive and I have been left with residual affects sort of mimicking a stroke.. Still having problems with cognitive and physical abilities.. We are not the only victims.. our families give up so much taking care of us.. loving us so much through it all.. and oh yes the Medicare,, WOW!!!!

Deciding to build this camper was a major deal for me.. not sure if I would or could finish it. Which is why it seems to me it's taking longer than expected. But I needed to do it for myself as much as doing it for my wife and I to just enjoy. I forget things a lot in the middle of doing them, have to stop and take time to rethink what I was doing. Then there's those days I can barely get out of bed, let alone work on something like the camper. Things that I used to take for granted, like using some tools, is very hard for me now.. But hey, I'm doing it.. And I have my family to Thank for all they did and do to help me through it all.. Your Dad is lucky to have you to take care of him... you ever just need to vent, send me an email,, I'd be more then happy to listen.. or talk things through with you, if it'd help.. Hang in there friend... David

For all your challenges you are doing great! I applaud your effort. My father is stubborn and refuses to acknowledge his cognitive issues and doesn't want to do the therapy with me, but we are all coping I guess.

As for camping, I'm planning to go back to the same beach spot for with my trailer next week before work starts. Hopefully I can catch fish again but even if not it'll be good to get away from the stress for a few days.

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[Staryder61]

For all your challenges you are doing great! I applaud your effort. My father is stubborn and refuses to acknowledge his cognitive issues and doesn't want to do the therapy with me, but we are all coping I guess.

As for camping, I'm planning to go back to the same beach spot for with my trailer next week before work starts. Hopefully I can catch fish again but even if not it'll be good to get away from the stress for a few days.

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Thank you clam, I've never been one to be told "No, you can't do that". Tell me I can't, and watch out.. And to be stubborn is a right of getting older..
Camping for you next week will be good, and will help with some of the stress.. so enjoy it, as you said, Fish or not.....

I'll be working on ours. It's going to see camping sometime soon..

[Staryder61]

Hatch build, moving a little slow,
Have been working on the tail light boxes.. working on them as I can..

Tail lights for tear drop will be up and down on the hatch instead of sideways.. stop, tail lights on top, reverse lights in the bottom hole. I cut the sides out of 3/4" cedar, then cut and glued 1/8" ply over the curve part.. clamped with a ratchet strap and shim boards for even pressure.



3/4" cedar wood frame to match galley hatch curve, covered with 1/8" plywood. Marked and saber sawed wholes for the PVC pipe. Mounting and gluing the PVC in boxes, making sure both pieces of PVC were mounted with the same 5 degree angle downward, to let any water drain out of the bottom and not pool in the light openings. When dried, the PVC will be sanded off flush with the 1/8" plywood.



These boxes will be mounted in the hatch framing.. along each side..
When all framing is completed, I will skin the hatch with 1/8" plywood. Where the recesses for the lights are, I will drill a hole and use a flush router bit to cut out the holes.. then round over the edges.. the edge of the PVC will be hidden by the outer skin.. inside of PVC will be painted..
The license plate area will be done the same way when finished..

[KCStudly]

Nice.

How will you seal the lights to prevent water from getting into the galley? Do they have rubber grommets, or do you plan on using sealer? ...or will you be capping the inside end of the PVC?

[Staryder61]

Nice.

How will you seal the lights to prevent water from getting into the galley? Do they have rubber grommets, or do you plan on using sealer? ...or will you be capping the inside end of the PVC?

Thanks KC, the lights fit nice and tight inside the PVC, and the rubber grommets that came on the front of the lights, have been trimmed and fit really tight in the back of the PVC, against the back of the lights. and will make for easy light removal for repair or change if needed..
Before I followed through with the work of making the boxes, tried one light in place with the grommet. Laid it down facing up and poured in water. Next morning, no water under light on table.. so seals good..

[Staryder61]

French inset tail light boxes and license plate box completed. Positioned in galley hatch. Now can finish struts in hatch, wiring and then skin..
As I mentioned before, bottom light each side will be reverse lights..

[clamlamp]

Looking great! After seeing the double lights I wish I added two

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[Staryder61]

Looking great! After seeing the double lights I wish I added two

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Thank you clam,
As for the two lights, I thought up and down would look better, than side beside. I've added reverse lights on every trailer I've ever had. Sure helps when you arrive somewhere at night..

[aggie79]

Looking great David!

Keep up the good work but don't get heat stroke! Temperatures have been crazy this year.

BTW, take time on your build. It isn't a race. I worked on ours for 3-1/2 years and it still isn't finished.

Take care,
Tom

[Staryder61]

Looking great David!

Keep up the good work but don't get heat stroke! Temperatures have been crazy this year.

BTW, take time on your build. It isn't a race. I worked on ours for 3-1/2 years and it still isn't finished.

Take care,
Tom

Tom, Thank you,,

Hope you and Linda are doing good with all this heat..

Yes, with these temps lately, it's slowed down the build even more.. even the 96 degrees today feels like 102..
No race here to get it done.. working when I can, not to get to HOT.. usually early morning for a few hours..
Would like to get it skinned and sealed, that's my focus right now.. GO CAMPING when it's cooler and finish other things when I have time and money later..

Take care and be safe, David

[Staryder61]

Added 3/4" X 2 1/2" wide popular where the 4' joint seam will be for the skin..
Rest of the struts are glued in place..
Have a 2" x 4" x 5' piece of red cedar for the bottom of the hatch to add..
Need to insert and epoxy t-nuts in license plate recess box for the license plate screws..



Then ready for light wiring and skinning....

[Staryder61]

Hatch hinged temporary to make sure it raises right. Wanted to check it for being square, with out all the spacers between it and the sides of galley..



Also so I can figure out how high it should raise. This is 4" above my head.. seems high with the arch of the hatch, but I don't want to hit my head every time I walk under it. Or have to duck under it..



Working out the bottom edge at the end of the galley floor. That the hatch will close against and where the weather seal will be.. This has been hard for me to get my head wrapped around it.
I've tried a couple different ideas and I think I finally have it figured out so it will work and seal good.. fingers crossed here...

[Staryder61]

Drawing of how the seal on the bottom of the galley hatch will work..



Using popular and red cedar to fabricate the bottom of the hatch seal.. see above uploaded diagram




Was it hot enough today for everyone?

This pic was taken at 5:30 pm, 8/8/18, inside the shop where I work on the tear drop... it hit 108 starting at 2:00 pm and was still 108 at 5:30..
I was there just long enough to check on a couple glued up pieces... I don't have enough of these