Neel's Palm Beach 22 build

[denbrlr]

Neel,

That is really coming along nicely. Looks great.

Lee

[DrBryanJ]

Looking good Neel, but I don't see the beer can delivery system yet.

[Bill Edmundson]

I think Neel plans a keg and taps system this time. It is kind of like mechanical or hydraulic steering system choice.

Bill

[neel thompson]

I like Bill's idea... Great minds think alike !! Back to the chair !!

[neel thompson]

i have almost finished the front cockpit, at least as far as I will go at this point. All of the rough wiring is in and the several grounding blocks have been attached to various frame members. Most of the grounds have been installed on the blocks after shrink wrapped connectors were crimped on. It looks like spaghetti dinner at the gathering !! I have also installed the two bilge pumps, one up front at the deepest part of the keel and one at the transom.
I'm still waiting for my motor and have been told "any day now". I was hoping to get it installed before leaving for Florida after Christmas. I still have plenty to do so not in a great rush. I will be concentrating on the seats, ceiling board framing, and floor framing in the aft cockpit.

[neel thompson]

A few more pics

[Bill Edmundson]

It's looking good Neel!

Bill

[Roberta]

You should use lexan for decking so don't have to hide your Beautiful work.

Roberta

[sshamilt@gmail.com]

You should use lexan for decking so don't have to hide your Beautiful work.

Roberta

Now that would be cool for education purposes!

[mrintense]

Thanks for posting the latest photos Neel. It's good to see how others are wiring their boats. If I can just get past my current trials with boat finishing, wiring will be next. Looking good as always.

[neel thompson]

Thanks everyone... I have started working in the aft cockpit. I fabricated the framing for the ceiling boards on both sides. I also have drawn up my plans for the two bucket seats. Both seats will have electrical stuff in them. The starboard one will have the battery switch and the twelve lug main fuse panel with ground bus. So a lot of wiring will be going from the seat up to behind the dash to the switches. The port seat will also have a fuse panel in it, but it will only be a six lug panel with ground bus. That panel will feed the trim tabs, stern thruster, stern thruster tab, port bilge blower and both bilge pumps. The rocker switch for the stern thruster will be mounted low on the front panel of the port seat. The auto bilge switches will be mounted on one of the port ceiling boards, slightly under the port side of the dash. I also have all deck battens cut to size with the exception of the engine hatch and aft deck hatch battens. I started encapsulating them this morning as installing the forward and aft decks might be on the agenda before Christmas. No pictures today.. Neel

[Milhouse]

Great Progress Neel! looks great!

[steveh41]

Really love the framing detail shots... I agree with Roberta, it's a shame to have to cover it up!

Steve

[neel thompson]

Thanks Jim and Steve. This week I have been fabricating the framework for the two bucket seats for the aft cockpit. Many angles and curves and a lot of thinking !!! I also have installed the aft cockpit ceiling board framing on the starboard side. I have delayed delivery for my motor until I return from Florida on March 1st. It will have aluminum heads and valve covers along with stainless risers. It should be on the mild side for a 383 Stroker with somewhere around 350 HP. I am going with a 71C Velvet Drive transmission with a 1:1 ratio. There was some discussion here on the forum some time ago about the Johnson dripless shaft seal. It doesn't require a water pick up. I bought one so I hope it works as advertised. Does anyone have any experience with this seal?

[Roberta]

Looks nice. I found a video on installing it. Looks easy enough. Shown with a taper shaft coupler, but any coupler should be easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERxONEpGV_M

Roberta