Steering console and other jobs

Good progress was made this week on several fronts. Firstly, I have installed the steering console. Before actual gluing I had to prepare the inner structure, which will stiffen the console and supply a point to support the steering mechanism (see bottom picture). The fileting of all parts inside will not win beauty prizes. It was a bit akward to work inside, due to the limited access.

Some thought also had to be invested in the top of the console. It is not glued on, but it is removable, in order to allow access to the steering cables, and eventual maintenance. And the top had to be built in a way as to avoid water ingress.

The other front I managed to bring forward, was the steering mechanism itself. It will be built of a stainless steel axis, with a nailon cilinder, which will receive the spectra cables. I was talking to Valmir, who has already helped me in different tasks, such as priming the hull, when I mentioned the difficulty in producing the parts for the steering, since I lack the adequate tools and skills to work with steel. Just when I said this, he laughed, and said my problems were over, because Tavares, a chap which works with stainless, was just comming around the corner. Few moments later, we managed to discuss the job at hand and agreed that Tavares would produce what I need. By next week I will know whether it will work. I'm not all too sure. But I'm taking the risk, since I really feel I must advance with this steering project.

My conversation with Valmir was also fruitfull, because we agreed on him finishing the ama. He will deliver it faired, finished and painted. Hopefully in about two weeks.