construction continues on the Menehune Swoop!

[Juneaudave]

Welcome back!!!

[teardrop_focus]

Miguel!!!

Good to see you post!

[dmckruit]

hello everyone,
i'm back! :-) i've been working on the teardrop here and there during the last month or two, but this weekend i finally devoted some time to it. it feels good to be back...it feels good to (almost) have life look normal again.

although the TD was covered (with a car cover and a blue tarp) for the last six months, the 1/8" thick trim on the roof managed to warp. the trim on the curved sections is fine (i attribute that to it being under constant tension on the curve).



i took off the warped trim and replaced it with 3/4" thick trim. i rabbeted each end of the new trim so that it overlapped the ends of the curved 1/8" trim - this gives me some assurance that it won't warp. although functional, i was not pleased with the look. the thicker trim looked like it was an afterthought, installed to cover a mistake. i decided to make a luggage rack so that the new thick pieces look like they belong.



l

Miguel,

You really have a nice build going there, and I'm glad to see you back to building and posting!

I have a big concern about water infiltration through your roof during a rain event. From the photos, it looks like the front end of your roof (tongue side) is slanted upwards, then slants downward towards the back until it meets the "swoop" part which then slants upward. This design, compounded with the "roof rack finishing" (which looks really nice by the way) leaves no where for the water to flow off the roof. Instead it is going to pond on the roof between the finishing and eventually find its way through any cracks or crevices it can find. That will put a large burden on the sealant you use on the roof to keep the water outside the tear.

I just wanted to bring this to your attention as you really need to rethink your design of the roof. Perhaps other members of this forum may have some ideas.

Dave

[green_eyed_diablito]

thanks for the welcome, guys. it's good to be back.

i appreciate the concern for the potential leakage, dave. i considered that, but when it came down to it, form beat function. i couldn't stand the look of the thick trim pieces all by themselves.

aside from the multiple coats of marine varnish, i will apply a bead of clear 100% silicone to all the seams. i'm counting on the silicone flexing with the seams as we make our way down the highway. add to that the fact that i don't ever go camping when there's rain in the forecast, and i should be ok. we're a little spoiled in SoCal in that we can count on dry weather.

but i do realize that containing water is like containing a genie in a bottle. your concerns are legitimate, but i think i'll be ok...wish me luck!

[Greg M]

Besides, it never rains in LA right?

Great to see you back, Miguel.

-Greg

[grizz]

Welcome back.

[green_eyed_diablito]

Hello, all! I finally got the TD varnished. We have had hot weather so I had to time the varnishing sessions to coincide with temps lower than 90 degrees. I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

[del]

Looking good, but be warned to allow extra time when making fuel, and other stops. The crowds will slow you down. The people passing you with cameras will be entertaining though.

del

[GeoDrop]

How is that license plate light working as a door light? I bought the same thing for an over-the-door light but not sure if it will put out enough light.

Hello, all! I finally got the TD varnished. We have had hot weather so I had to time the varnishing sessions to coincide with temps lower than 90 degrees. I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

[Steve Frederick]

Lovely build Miguel!
I love the galley!

Brilliant hatch concept, very simple, yet beautiful!
Great job!

[Greg M]

Wow, Miguel! That's really starting to look great

-Greg

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Looks awesome! Have a maiden voyage in mind yet?

[green_eyed_diablito]

How is that license plate light working as a door light? I bought the same thing for an over-the-door light but not sure if it will put out enough light.

i wish i could give you an answer, but i don't have a battery yet. it's a courtesy light for a boat, so i'm hoping it gives off a decent amount of light. if it doesn't, i'll replace the bulb and socket with a few LEDs.

[green_eyed_diablito]

Lovely build Miguel!
I love the galley!

Brilliant hatch concept, very simple, yet beautiful!
Great job!

Thanks, Steve. I kicked around the idea of having some sort of folding strut system, but when I thought of this I liked its simplicity.

[green_eyed_diablito]

Wow, Miguel! That's really starting to look great

-Greg

Thanks, Greg. I'm almost there!