Internal Cabin Woodwork Begins // How To Build A Catamaran you can live on Ep326

In this week’s video episode, Janet and John continue their journey in building a live-on catamaran as they venture towards the northwest coast of Western Australia. They briefly interrupt their boatwork to enjoy an experience with some dolphins who are fed by locals under controlled circumstances for their well-being.

Woodwork Begins Inside the Cabin

The couple then delves into an in-depth session of woodwork. John covers the engine room to avoid any contact between his chemicals and the engines, ensuring their longevity. He proceeds to smooth out any rough edges and add flow coat where necessary, integrating each piece perfectly with meticulous precision.

Aluminum Drawers for a Spacious Interior

In the galley, John installs aluminum drawers purchased prior to the project. Each drawer has multiple compartments with faces of Tasmanian oak to give it a homely and personalized touch. The couple also plans an induction cooktop, a convection microwave oven, and a pot drawer in this section.

Tasmanian Oak Drawers and Surrounds

John utilizes Tasmanian oak for the drawers, ensuring consistency across the design. Despite some complexities due to the curvature of the module, he manages to create a perfect-fitting drawer unit with meticulous craftsmanship. The galley features double doors, three drawers, and another door, all made from Tasmanian oak.

Finishing Touches

The woodwork progresses with John designing a surround for the galley to give it a completed and refined look. He uses a mixture of cardboard and real materials to plan the position accurately before permanently gluing them together. This includes adding a custom microwave, styled in-built like a fridge.

Stainless Fabrication

The couple decides on some stainless steel fabrication work. John creates plans for handrails for the back lounge and fabricates them himself with help from Janet. The seat at the helm requires a welding touch, which they outsource to PK for quality.

Custom Helm Seat

The final and 15th iteration of the custom helm seat design is perfect in terms of height and position, ensuring excellent visibility from that location. Stainless plates are used for mounting the seat securely, and a sliding mechanism can be added later if required.

What’s Next?

John concludes the video episode by discussing their upcoming tasks. They plan to continue working on the tops, helm station, and other aspects of the boat construction while contemplating potential design changes for a better overall experience.