This is the first view of below deck, the companionway ladder to enter Pilar's interior. The wood is Oregon Myrtle wood, rough-cut 1-1/4" air-dried lumber in our basement for nine years while we built the boat's interior.
Myrtle wood has beautiful but difficult grain to work. It is not straight, but 'squirrels', undulating and curling throughout a plank. It cannot be safely planned to a finished thickness due to potential tearing out of the wayward grain, so a huge drum sander had to be used to bring it down to the one-inch thickness we desired. Further hand sanding (up to 1500 or more grit) brought out glittering ribbons of gold within a variety of rich umber washes.
Non-skid stripes of crushed walnut shells, sealed into the urethane varnish finish, provide secure footing on an otherwise slippery surface. The last step is the lid of Pilar's starter battery box. A stainless steel strut supports the wood atop the battery box lid, and can be swung upwards, latching to an overhead beam for easy access to engine room or battery, or hanging locker behind the ladder. The hinges are handmade from brass bar stock and rod.
Every morning, before putting the kettle on for coffee, a quick step up onto the battery box with hands simultaneously gripping the first step to guide shoulders and head out the companionway, the first glimpse of dawn is drawn into a deep breath of pervading well-being. Exquisite ritual, this; reconnecting hands to the sensual first shaping of each cut and curve; past and present, one.
This is the first view of below deck, the companionway ladder to enter Pilar's interior. The wood is Oregon Myrtle wood, rough-cut 1-1/4" air-dried lumber in our basement for nine years while we built the boat's interior.
Myrtle wood has beautiful but difficult grain to work. It is not straight, but 'squirrels', undulating and curling throughout a plank. It cannot be safely planned to a finished thickness due to potential tearing out of the wayward grain, so a huge drum sander had to be used to bring it down to the one-inch thickness we desired. Further hand sanding (up to 1500 or more grit) brought out glittering ribbons of gold within a variety of rich umber washes.
Non-skid stripes of crushed walnut shells, sealed into the urethane varnish finish, provide secure footing on an otherwise slippery surface. The last step is the lid of Pilar's starter battery box. A stainless steel strut supports the wood atop the battery box lid, and can be swung upwards, latching to an overhead beam for easy access to engine room or battery, or hanging locker behind the ladder. The hinges are handmade from brass bar stock and rod.
Every morning, before putting the kettle on for coffee, a quick step up onto the battery box with hands simultaneously gripping the first step to guide shoulders and head out the companionway, the first glimpse of dawn is drawn into a deep breath of pervading well-being. Exquisite ritual, this; reconnecting hands to the sensual first shaping of each cut and curve; past and present, one.