Rear Tire Carrier On The Subaru

Pictures!

The fenders are here.  They don't quite fit yet, but they will!

Got out all the lighting to see what I will have pt do with it.

Test fitting the floor on the frame and locating/marking the mounting tabs between the floor and the frame.

Mounting tabs glued in place.

Working on the passenger side door.

Initial test fit.

Second coat of rust proofing paint

Final test fitting of passenger side door.

It opens!

Making espresso while watching paint dry.

I'm taking a few days off trailer making, and focusing on the Subaru.  I hope to have an update of that later today.  

First Coat Of Anti-Rust Coating On

My Saturday In Port Townsend

I drove up to Port Townsend yesterday to visit Admiral Ship Supply to pick up some epoxy for the intermediate sealing coat, and to visit a friend from Alaska. If you have read all of this thread, you know I was bemoaning my inability to find supplies locally for this build. I was pretty sure I should be able to find everything I needed in Port Townsend, as it is a major wood boatbuilding center in the USA. Moreover, it is home port for a significant population of wooden fishing vessels. Admiral Ship Supply is located in the heart of the port area, and it is, in my view, the place to go for general supplies and a significant number of tools.  http://admiralshipsupply.com
I was able to find Sika products, as well as the 3M 5200 and 400 line of adhesives, plus a few different epoxy systems, including WEST and System Three (I decided on the WEST System because of its ubiquity).

Another supplier I found in Poulsbo is Longboat Marine. This shop is worth a destination type visit if you have plenty of free time. The owner has what amounts to a used marine supply store going on. Tools, scuppers, air vents, electrical parts, blocks, hinges, dinghies, etc. It is a small place, but fascinating in its array of offerings. And the owner will order anything you may think you want and get you fast delivery at very competitive prices. I can't get out of there without spending money. Plus Sluy's Bakery is just down the street and you can get tasty treats. The Poulsbohemian Coffee Shop up the street just past the Sons of Norway Hall also makes the best vanilla lattes I have found in North Kitsap County. Central Kitsap County too for that matter.

But the find of the day was Edensaw Woods.  http://www.edensaw.com/MainSite/Stor...Home/Main.aspx I met my friend from Alaska at Admiral Ship Supply, and he brought along his brother-in-law, George. George is a fisherman and fishing vessel owner, and as we were having lunch, he offered to take me up to Edensaw Woods so I could browse the lumber and tool selection (I had mentioned I might try to find some teak to make sea rails for the table I have in mind). George is a great guy, fantastic guy, the guy when you meet him you say to yourself, "I wish I could be like that guy." So we went to Edensaw Woods, and I was stunned. Turns out they are a major supplier throughout the US of specialty woods. They supply my vendor in Anchorage with the Baltic Birch that is in my drawer system in my Subaru. I was talking with the owner, and it turns out that he has the 3/4 " Baltic Birch in marine grade that I was looking for to build the Sawtooth. In fact, I could have bought the entire package from him and they would deliver it for free. Holy Buckets! A week or two of aggravation gone if I had but known! I knew such a place must have existed around here, but I just couldn't get vectored in until I met a vessel owner who had to constantly upgrade and maintain his vessel for the Alaska fishing industry. The lumber warehouse (not the lumber showroom, which is stunning in and of itself) just blew me away. From tree trunks sawed into 6-inch planks, to 14"x16"x15 ft purpleheart beams, to the latest Columbia Forest Products formaldehyde free plywoods, and so much more. It was like nothing I've ever seen before.

I closed out the day by driving to Harbor Freight in Port Angeles and picking up a few things, including a tongue box. I dropped them off at Wayne's place, and it turns out the angles on the tongue box almost match the angles on the Sawtooth XL frame. I will be able to give you a better idea when I get everything painted and bolted together.

Trailer Frame

I will drive to Port Angeles on Sunday and pick up the trailer frame.  I'm pretty excited about that.  The final parts are being delivered to Wayne the Welder today, and we should have it rolling by noon on Sunday.

We are also going to attempt to install a tire carrier on the rear of the Subaru.  This is exciting in and of itself!  this little car will never be the same if we can get that done.

Progress!

Over the last few days, I have been able to finish cutting out all of the pieces except the doors and the galley hatch.

The second side with the inner skin cut out and resting on top.

The vent is resting in its hole in the roof panel.

The front window in its panel.

The trailer pieces before assembly.  All panels are cut and ready for assembly.

Here are the braces for the curved parts of the roof and front of the trailer. The template I used is resting on top of the stacks of five braces in each stack.

Tomorrow I hope to cut the chases for the wiring and make some jigs I will need for assembly.  After that, I will start the process of sealing the outer surfaces of the plywood.  I hope to be doing the assembly next week.

Taking Sunday Off

I took off Sunday and went with John, Karen, and their granddaughter, Kaylee Grace, to Indian Island to meet Wayne the Welder and his family and watch them do some clamming.  It was a beautiful day.

After clamming, we went to Wayne's house in Port Angeles.

And a deer walked across the lawn like we were not there.

Fun day.  Wayne and I plan that I will go up to his place on Saturday, and finish off the trailer frame.  On the other hand, the weather forecast is for rain that day, so the plan may be delayed a day or two.

Slower Than Molasses

Well, the doctor did take most of the morning.  No infection, so the only treatment is rest.  Which I did.  But parts are moving along.  After today, Tuesday, I have the sides done, one inner panel done, all the roof, front, rear, and galley panels cut to length, and more than half of them cut to final dimension.  Should be test fitting the body panels in a day or two.

We stopped at about 2:00 because it was 80 degrees outside, and even hotter in the shop.

Moving Along

There has been some movement, but some delay as well. I've not been well for a few days, and I'm going to have to see a doctor tomorrow. Nothing serious I'm sure, but I think I need some antibiotics. 

And the battery in the Subaru had to be replaced today. I was tired of jump starting it every time I wanted to drive somewhere. That took most of the morning today. 

The rest of the morning was spent correcting a measurement error. It turns out that 1' 6 3/16" is different than 16 3/16". It took a couple of hours to cut out the wrong piece and replace it with the correct size piece. 

But by the end of the day, the floor was finished with the wheel wells glued and screwed in place. 

And both sides are cut and trimmed, and all laid out. 

If the doctor doesn't take too long tomorrow, I will get both sides finished with the doors, windows, and wheel well openings cut out, and all the rabbets and dados cut. Starting to get some traction now. 

Decisions

After a few mistakes which have taken time to correct, I have one side cut out. 

But then I gave to decide. Large?

Or small?

I'm going with small.