Cockpit fit and finish

The original plans specified a half inch cockpit floor which seemed awfully light. After looking at Falcon's floor and seat grates I realized just how lightly built they were. No wasted weight here, anything to get more lead in the keel.


The cockpit grates are 3/4 inch strips of Spanish Cedar notched and fitted using the same system I used to make the seats. Like the grates on Falcon, each intersection of the grid is secured with a 1" x 16G square copper nail.


To give the grid some age I framed it using pieces of the old mahogany cockpit supports. Before final installation of the grates and cockpit floor they were given their first two coats of varnish.


The bilge was given a final coat of paint before the floor panels and seat supports were installed.


Cockpit grates in place...


Seats in place...


Next, seats for the grinders.