Building the Malahini with Dad

by Alan Bates

12. The interior framing has been completed, and I have pre-cut buoyancy foam for installation after the top decking is completed. It just glues to the bottom side of the top deck with a contact adhesive. The buoyancy foam is 50mm low density polyethylene (LDPE). It was great to work with and cut with an electric bread knife (don't tell my wife!). Buoyancy foam has been added under the top deck, and under the floor. The State Government has recently changed the laws to require small boats to have positive buoyancy.



13. The front seat under construction. I spent a lot of time car rallying in my youth, so I know the importance of good weight distribution. That is why I chose to position the fuel tanks under the front seat. The front seat is actually very close to the mid-point of the boat, so by putting the tanks here, and by mounting the battery in a box on the junction of the stem and the forward frame, the weight of the outboard is counter-balanced. Oh, and I found a beautiful mahogany steering wheel.



14. This shows the front seat completed, with a curved top to match the curve on the top deck. The rear seat is essentially a bench seat, but instead of being fixed in place, it just locates on a ply block on each side that sits between the seat beams. This means that the bench seat can be lifted a few inches and slid forward to access the rear storage areas. The leading edge of the rear deck has to be upholstered to provide a backrest. You'll see this in a later shot.



15. I cheated with the top deck. A local ply company manufactures a marine grade ply, with the top veneer being 3 inch strips of Teak, with 1/4 inch strips of Ash in between. It looks great, and was very easy to fit. This shot also shows the holes that I pre-cut in the tops of the frames to run the steering cable, forward control cables, fuel lines and battery lead (remember, the fuel tanks and battery are positioned at the front for better weight distribution).



16. Remember earlier that I was talking about the great lines and curves of the 'Malahini'. If you doubted me, just have a look at this photo! By the way, I named her 'Sophia', after Sophia Loren (great lines and curves!)



17. Leaving home for the first time. 'Sophia' is off for her outboard, windscreen, and sign writing. Do you remember what it was like when the kids left home for the first time? ...Well that's how nervous I was!

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