Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Paul is adjusting the gate on the deck after we found it had expanded in the rain of this record-breaking summer.

Kawashima is building the frame and installing the glass of the double skylight over the corridor. This frame allows air into the cabins and light into the passageway while maintaining privacy.

Tatsumi is installing the baseboard of the saloon wall. With every little detailed task that is completed, the saloon moves closer to completion.

Saturday, August 22

The painting continues, with every nook and cranny getting attention.

Paul and Lewis are replacing the former temporary boom gallows with a new one, made of bronze and varnished teak.

Tatsumi continues working on the original cabinet doors. Most of the furniture is square, but the sole in the main saloon rises as it goes forward and the furniture has to follow this angle. It’s only a very slight angle but if the furniture was made square it would look strange to the eye and the units at the forward end would be lower than those at the after end. Nicholson elected to make the original furniture follow the angle, a decision that means the furniture is more visually pleasing.

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Paul and Lewis finished installing the main boom gallows.

Kawashima built a triangular box in the wall for an air conditioning duct. This and a similar one will go in the aft cabins.

Monday, August 24, 2020

Making partitions for the space under the sink in the shower room means a tight squeeze.

Lewis is taking measurements for the door to the shower that is next to the owner’s stateroom.

Tuesday, August 25

Hashimoto is making the molding that runs along the shelf at the back of the couch on both sides of the saloon.

Massa is fitting fiddles to the cabinet tops in the saloon that will keep things from sliding off them.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Kawashima is building the framed panels that close off the hull of the ship and create a cabin side. The frame work is all traditional, with the wood joined with mortice, tenons and wedges, exactly like the original ones. Of course, they have to account for portholes as well.

Paul is installing the lifters for the skylight windows over the saloon. Winding the handle lifts and closes the window. These are original parts that have been restored and nickel-plated.

Tatsumi is working on the doors to the glassware cabinets.

Tuesday, August 11

Tatsumi is fitting the doors into the cupboards . . .

while Wada is shellacking the cupboard linings . . .

and Shingo sands the pattresses preparing them for shellacking. The ones that have already been installed in the deck house look great with the refurbished light fixtures. (below).

Saturday, August 15

We’re designing the cupboards to fit the tableware that they will hold, following our detailed measurements.

After making sure all the cupboard doors fit and the pattresses are all made, it’s time for final shellacking.

 Monday, August 17, 2020

The shelves of the tableware cupboards have to be made the right height for the items that will be stored.

Time to varnish the top of the bathroom sink counter that will go in the owner’s stateroom.