Where has the Man Shed been?

Work on the TMS-20 resumed today after a sabbatical of home repair for 7 weeks remodeling my master bathroom. I completely gutted the bathroom and rebuilt it including all of the walls, window, plumbing, electrical, and tile. It came out very nice but was a lot of work and time. I figure I saved about 11K by doing the work myself. I also came up with an idea for new sideline making modular shower seats using the foam fiberglass construction method, more on that later as I build a prototype. I’ve focused all of my energy on the remodel and now it is complete. For those of you that are married you know that you have to keep the Mrs. happy. Being married for 30 years I’ve learned that if mama is happy - you are happy. For those of you new at relationships jot down a note on this.
I have been interviewing for jobs and think I’ve landed a job with a company that makes interactive TV systems for cruise ships. I’m going to my 3rd interview tomorrow. If successful I will be working as a project lead and traveling worldwide. The position, if I get it, sounds like fun and will bring me closer to the ocean and a Nautical Career – better then hanging out in the booking area of jails! My former career was in biometric forensic hardware/software and took me too many law enforcement facilities. Now I can scope out portages so when I do finally end up living on a boat, my dream, I’ll have a better idea of what is out there. My 6 months of semi-retirement may be coming to an end, it has been relaxing, but I started to dip into my savings. The TMS-20 project will still take time and I figure I’ll have to work some more before it truly gets off of the ground.
I’ve decide to change my build philosophy on the TMS-20. I was trying to build a usable plug for the main hull. In an attempt to clean up the jig between sides it changed the profile slightly between the two sides. I also corrected some build techniques which added to the variance. I was attempting to correct these variances by fairing and decided I was just adding weight to the boat and would really never pull it to be 100% symmetrical. If I did not mention it you most likely would not see the slight difference but I know they are there. So keeping my anal side in check I’ve decided to use the FAP principle (Fair as Possible). Part is due to the building technique - in a larger vessel you cannot look at both sides at the same time and see a trivial difference. In reality it is not very noticeable in the TMS-20 except to the discerning eye. My emphasis will be to get the boat to the water and prove the design concept. In building the Ama’s I will build a plug and incorporate my learned techniques and practice other concepts I’ve thought about. Then if I decide to go further with the TMS-20 I’ll build a plug for the main hull with emphases and workmanship to make both sides 100% symmetrical and add any design changes as deemed necessary after sailing/racing the prototype.
The finished boat will still have the building detail and workmanship I’ve incorporated into the boat so far and I can work out the inconsistencies when I build a plug for the main hull. I’ve been thinking about what I can do to make a production mold/boat easier to build.
On with the project and I’ll post some pics as I move forward.
Later,

Mike

Mike,

I was beginning to wonder what happened to you. Glad to hear you are still kicking though I'm disappointed to hear that the updates on the tri may be coming at a slower rate!

You motivated me recently in a couple of areas; 1) I want to build a trimaran...although it will be a 4' RC model, it will be extremely high tech and quite tall. As I started drawing up this project, I realized I don't have the space to either build or store this model...so I decided I needed a man shed of my own and to start working and documenting some more projects. I'm recruiting my own name for the structure though...it will be known as the Garage-Mahal! ;-)

Thanks Mike! I look forward to your updates on life and the man shed.

Hey Jake...

I was planning to tag along on the Tybee race but that was when I started the bathroom and wanted to work it through to completion. 4 weeks of not having a working shower was putting things on edge when it came to bath time. I could not recall the last time I sat in a tub before the remodel. My wife is very pleased with her new bathroom so that’s puts me in the plus column on the points rating. So I’m looking at new trucks while still on her good side.

Good luck on the shed I have a link on my website on building mine. A few things would be different but not much. After turning all of the bolts I did not want to see another bolt for quite a long time I recall that there was two 5 gallon buckets full of bolts.
It was good to get behind the sander today and start shaping the hull again.

Later

I almost called you yesterday to see whats been going on. I have a gift for you Mike! Ive got a question that you would be able to answer so i will give you a ring tonight.

I put the boat on the back burner to remodel a bathroom and just finished up this past weekend! Thats funny. I must say that mine looks nowhere near as good as yours!

TurboCat,
Cool I'm back home but may have to fit in an afternoon nap first! Not much sleep last night and up at the crack of dawn to drive to Ft Lauderdale. I forgot what rush hour traffic was like heading towards Miami let alone the crack of dawn.

I secured the job as Project Lead for Allin Interactive installing interactive TV Systems on Cruise Ships. I’ll be headquartered out of Ft Lauderdale and travel to ship yards in France, Italy Germany, Norway, and Netherlands or to the ship during cruises.

I’ll continue to work on the TMS-20 when I’m stateside.

Congrats on the job and new truck buddy!!!

I started working on the wife for sailing/camping on Wednesday/Thursday. I think it is a go especially since her friend is coming in from Cali with kid in tow is visiting. Rob sounds up for it too.

Cliffy, got the official approval from the BOSS!

Sailing Wednesday and camping out on Peanut Island Wednesday night. Probably pop over to Hilton or Palm Beach Shores Resort for happy hour before sailing to Peanut. Depends which one has music. If the weather is crap, we can stay at the condo.

Looks like Rob is onboard and any other sailors welcome. You can launch at Phil Foster Park just accross from Peanut.

Cool it will be a fun trip before I join the ranks of working Americans again! I'm getting 18 MPG hiway with the HEMI almost as good as my old Ford 150. I just have to press my foot very soft on the gas pedel and use cruise control a lot. I'll check out the trailer on the truck tomorrow.

I've started on Mt Gay rum already! Viva Barbados

Getting a nice group together. Chip and Bruce from the Delray Sailors Yacht Club are onboard. Bruce is either sailing his Nacra 6.0 or a Hobie 16 depending on if he thinks his old (soon to be replaced) 6.0 sails can make another trip. I would like to try and meet him about halfway.

Rob and Rainer are meeting us at Happy Hour and Fast Eddie and his son (from Brazil) will be camping out with us.

Fast Eddie needs a two man tent and I can't seem to find my extra one. I have an extra one man tent. Let me know what tents you might have.

Hey, I really like that shower. Nice job on the tile work. I have been trying to teach myself tile and its a fair sight tougher to do than you would think. I like the fact you put a seat in there, looks awesome.

so it doesn't just "slap together" like it does on the HGTV channel? Gee... wonder why that is?

If it were "real" HGTV, you'd see a lot more dirt/sweat and they'd have to censor out every third word. That, and you'd see real workarounds (like sawzall cuts and cool stuff).

I'm not an expert, but I don't think I've ever seen a square corner or plumb ceiling here in FL. It's painfully obvious when I attempt to put in crown molding. Anyone have suggestions to make it LOOK square?

Lots of drywall putty.

duck tape

Caulk is the carpenters second best freind.

twist the roof counter clockwise?

The punch out mans motto, "If you can't caulk it, F_-k it cause you can't duct it.

Floors are even worse!

(sigh)... that's what I thought...

did you expect an easy answer like??? epoxy and gelcoat?


I should be driving to west palm around x-mas Jay, i will help twist the roof with you if you like

Actually, I could probably do a better job with expoxy, but I was hoping for something easier than slopping a bunch of drywall mud and hoping no one notices the 1/2" gaps.

Maybe if I just take my glasses off it will be okay....

How is the new job going?
Something to get you through the first week:


(Wednesday night right before our midnight sail)