Listees . . . here is the latest project update. Also check out http://cuagain.manilasites.com/stories/storyReader$58 for some insight (hah) into the plasma cutter we are using. The website has been reorganized . . . check out the indexes on the left of the main page. Update--July 28-30, 2001 Title: Summer is HERE! Title if wife named it: "Honey, the bow is STILL in the front." Those of you that have been keeping up know that we intended to start the steel work with the forward deck plating, including anchor locker hatches and hawse-pipe. I began cutting bad decking loose and rapidly found that the hull-deck joint had to be repaired. We have spent the last month (of weekends) working on prep work for that installation. I figure that I have made it about a third of the way back to working on the bow. We have carefully measured/marked and are cutting the top of the side plating to the deck joint (on the forward decks) off to install the 1-1/2" steel pipe. As this involves cutting the side plating as well as the existing deck plating out of the way, there is a LOT of cutting involved, most of it precise. I have so far cut about 18 feet of this joint out of the port side-midships. This has involved about 50 feet or so of cutting. In addition the side plating cut must be very precise as that cut is the going to be the weld joint to the new pipe, and will provide the sheer shape. Work has slowed dramatically this summer due to the heat. We only work on the boat weekends, and have to knock-off work on the boat at about 11:30am daily due to the heat. Sitting in the sun, on the exposed deck of a steel boat, slinging a plasma torch in 100 degree heat tires me out fairly rapidly. I also must admit that we are not always getting to the boat at daybreak . . . after a hectic work week, I have to sleep in at least one day. Part of next week's project plan is to fry an egg on the deck of the boat . . . we will keep you posted as to the result . . . um . . . how do you want it? Over easy? The bright side is that even though I would love to be making faster progress, we were actually smart enough (for a change) to plan for this . . . and are still well ahead of our planned schedule. Till next time! Daniel Meyer 1959 44' Steel Phillip Rhodes MotorSailor Houston, Texas http://cuagain.manilasites.com