(Left)

Laminated construction of the keel; Fibreglass sheathing and undercoating of the hull; Construction of the saloon and cockpit floors and hatches all done whilst the hull was still upturned meant longer weather protection, and the odd afternoon nap in a hammock under the ‘cubby’.

(Right and Below)

The great ‘pig on the spit’ turn over. The combination of laminations, mechanical and epoxy fastenings, bulkheads and floors in place appears to have given a very strong hull - one end’s chain block caught and bent but nary a creak was heard nor a hairline crack appear in the hull so the first ‘racking’ test is passed.

(Left and Below)

Driving out Western NSW one day Phil passed a tractor ploughing a field at dawn.  He passed it again, still relentlessly ploughing, at dusk.  “That’s what I want my boat engine to do” - and so a John Deere 375 arrived.  Matched with a 27”x27” prop ‘Mooch’ should fulfil the requirement of “I want her to ‘bite’ when we need it”.

(Right)

This was the point when the Pelin Sportsfisher really became Phil and Margo’s unique customised Challenger.  The second cabin disappeared, trunk cabin top added over the focsle and head, saloon cabin lengthened, bought forward and a hold added fore of the engine room. The flybridge was done away with, the saloon roof given a ‘duckbill’ and lengthened over the cockpit, among the many customisations.

This site is © Drive Marine Services 2009, All Rights Reserved