Milestone hit: Welding is Complete

 We’ve Hit a Milestone — the Welding Is Complete!!

This is a big one. The aluminum welding

on the boat is now complete.

You’ll see from some of the pictures that they’ve already blown foam throughout the boat

to eliminate internal condensation.

The large rectangular side windows for each hull are in. The engines have arrived

at the boatyard, and a crane has been scheduled to place them aboard.

They’re painting the pilothouse in preparation for installing the windows, and the roof is being prepped

for solar panels. My special-order “Ultra” anchor

is on site https://www.ultramarine-anchors.com/. All of the Raymarine gear and Orca navigation systems and displays have been ordered.

Ceiling panels in the pilothouse are going up.

The French electricians were on site last week laying out plans for the hybrid motors tied to solar and batteries. The tender has been ordered, and I believe the hydraulic lift for the stern is now on site as well.

The Italians (of course) who manufacture the e-Motion hybrid motors shipped them without some critical electronics for the electric motors—those will now be air-freighted in.

There’s a lot going on. I had my RYA motorboat trainer come by to take a look. His very British comment: “There’s a lot going on, but it’s really looking smart.” I’m pretty sure that’s a good thing.

Oh—another big milestone: I sold my house in Sonoma County. Now I can actually pay for this thing!! Not quite in the order I had planned, but I got there. Big relief.

I’m headed over to the boatyard on the Isle of Wight the first week of May for a look-see—and to offer my skills as a sidewalk supervisor. I’ll do my best to stay out of the way!!