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Final Pre-Construction Rumination
As 2003 drew to a close, I found myself close to the beginning of actual construction.  All the work to date had been focused on demolition and preparation of the hull for this point.  My work on the boat during most of the year had been relatively sporadic, with bursts of activity that saw rapid demolition progress interspersed with longer periods of general inactivity.  Despite all that, my thoughts were rarely free from images of the finished project, various design and equipment ideas, and other concerns and issues about the job.

With nearly all of the grinding and demolition complete (by late November, all that remained was a portion of one of the bulkheads and a single chainplate knee, both of which required removal before beginning new construction), I prepared for new work to begin.  Despite several months of virtual nonactivity on the project, I intended to be in a position to begin the actual deck and internal structure construction by the first anniversary of my ownership of the boat--December 23.  I had spent a number of weeks working on other boat projects on Glissando, our cruising Triton, and in my habitual way I needed to complete those jobs before turning my attention fully to the Daysailor.

Design and actual construction specifics were few.  My attempts at laying a detailed design down on paper ended in the (not particularly surprising) realization that I was a hands-on, seat-of-the-pants kind of builder, and as such needed only some basic ideas and measurements with which to begin.  Designs and calculations needed  be dealt with only in specific situations, and on a case-by-case basis.  I decided I'd do best if I simply regarded the empty shell of a hull and let the details make themselves clear.

Details.  That's what this ends up being all about.  While no design or construction choices were firmly set, I had some strong ideas in my head.  I ran across this photo on the Internet, and found that the boat pictured embodied much of the same conceptual ideas and execution as I intend.  At first I thought it was a Bridges Point 24, designed by Joel White, but upon further inspection it appears to be another, slightly larger design--though it still looks like a Joel White boat.  (The cuddy trunk on a BP 24 actually ends in a more severe point, and ends aft of the mast partners--unlike the one in the photo below.)   In any event, the layout of the cabin trunk/cuddy and cockpit are very much what I had envisioned, as is the overall classic/basic style of the boat.  It's very clean, very classic, and very beautiful.  I like the overall proportions, the way the cockpit flows into the trunk, and the overall shape and design of the trunk.  This is close--though not identical to--my own vision.

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