Loft Windows

The loft windows are "replacement windows" meaning that they are designed to slip into an existing window frame. There is no flange that attaches to the sheathing, instead, the window simply screws into the existing frame. Shims are very helpful with these windows to get them straight and level.

After the windows are crudely screwed into place, the siding and window frames will cover up any voices and irregularities in the installation. Expanding foam will also be sprayed into the gap to seal out any drafts that could rip through the windows in the winter.

The loft windows will provide plenty of ventilation to the loft allowing us to sleep in there with comfort. The screens on the windows will also help keep any critters at bay.

These windows, with their eight screws, went in very easily and require very little skill to install. If I had the choice, I would say that regular windows offer more strength in their installation, but these windows install much more easily.

Fastening the Chine Logs

The chine logs run through the frame notches at the turn of the bilge and terminate at the back of the stem and front of the transom. The transom has yet to be built and the stem has yet to be attached to the keel, so for now the chine logs simply extend further than they are needed. Once the stem is attached, the chine logs will be cut flush with the back of the stem and set in place permanently. 

The hull turns towards the bow to meet at a central point while the aft section is relatively flat. The hull is composed of five frames, and only the last two are set relatively flat. This means that the front three frames are pretty much in line with each other until the hull curves towards the transom. 

To make installation and fastening easier, I began at the first station and worked my way aft. The chine log was held in place by hand and a pilot hole was drilled through the chine log and into the bottom futtock.  

With the first three stations screwed into place, the chine logs were bent back into place and aligned with the chine notches of the last two stations. As they were held in place, the pilot holes were made and the bronze fasteners were screwed into place, securing the chines and tying the whole hull together. 

Titebond III was also liberally applied to the faying surfaces between the chine log and frame notch, further reinforcing the bond between these structural members.  With the chines in place, the frames already feel much more secure and stable!

Installing Windows

Not the computer program, but equally as frustrating when trying to install!

I decided to install the smallest window first, as it is straight forward and low to the ground. This would be good practice for the massive windows that will fill the walls on the sides of the tiny house.

The back window is 36 inches wide, at least that is what the sticker on it said. So I built the tiny house to have a window frame that is 36 inches wide! When I went to install it, the window didn't fit because it is actually 36.25 inches wide. Oh joy!

I cut 1/4 inch notches into the frame on one side of the house and then began splitting the flat sawn 2x4 with a wood chisel. 

After mutilating 1/4 inch off of the the window frame 2x4, the window should now fit in its frame.

With the frame cut out to the appropriate size, the window was able to drop right in, be shimmed to level it, and then screwed into the sheathing and 2x4 frame. 

From the inside, an important step can be visualized. The tar paper that was covering the window should be folded into the window and wrapped over the frame. This will help keep that wood from rotting away because of rain water seeping in around the window frame.

Notching the Frames

The chine log needs to be set into the frames at the turn of the bilge. This means that the corner needs to have a section cut out of it which will hold the chine log. If you a building a large craft where proper lofting was carried out, the chine log notch would have been cut when the futtocks were being cut out and assembled.  

Since we are building a small dinghy, we do not have a full set of plans and proper lofting was not carried out. The futtocks were cut out and shaped with no regards for bevels or future stringers, and simple assembled onto the keel where they await further fabrication. 

They say the beauty of building a dinghy is you can make up your mind about the finished product as you go! This statement could not be more true. You start off with a set plan in mind and then modify this plan based on materials you have access to and ease of building. 

The depth of the chine log was cut into the corner using a handsaw. Once the cuts were made, the retained wood was chiseled out in small quantities. The end result was a rather well fitting notch that will retain the chine log and tie the frames together, offering loads of rigidity to the hull of our dinghy. 

Once all the frames were notched, the chines could be test fitted to ensure that they will lay fair and flush with the curves of the hull. 

One important point that does require some forethought is the fasteners that connect the futtocks need to be set in a way that they won't interfere with the chine log. I set the lower screw more inboard and the upper screw outboard. The upper screw and lower screw were set outside the imaginary area that would become the chine notch. This allowed me to simply cut out the notch without needed to relocate any fasteners. 

When Do You Have to Shut Down the Reverse Cycle

As the temperature drops well below freezing, your reverse cycle heater will be forced to work even harder. This will keep you very comfortable while inside your yacht, but can you keep this up all winter long?

It depends on the water temperature where you are moored. The reverse cycle heater works by extracting heat from the water you are floating in, and by default, cooling the water that is pumped out the side of your boat. As the water temperature gets colder, the unit will have to work even harder to cool the water and extract all the heat available.

If the water is too cold, the unit can cause the water to freeze while inside the tubing. When the water freezes, a few things happen: The water stops flowing through the tubing; and the water in the tubing will expand.

When the water stops flowing, there is no more new water flushing through the unit and it will not be able to continue to produce heat. You will notice this when cooler air starts to flow out of the air ducts and the boat will begin to cool down.

When the water freezes, it expands. The problem is most reverse cycle units have metal tubing that does not take kindly to any expansion. Freezing water will usually crack the tubing and wreck the entire unit!

As you can see, running your reverse cycle into the winter months may sound like a good plan for heating your yacht until you factor in the limitations of the reverse cycle unit. 

A good friend of mine who installs and services marine refrigeration and air conditioners gave me some insight on the matter. He recommends shutting them down when the water temperature drops below 40F to play it safe, and an absolute minimum operating water temperature of 38F.

Excellent, now you know that when the water temperature gets below 40F, it's time to shut it down, and if you feel lucky, you can wait until the water temperature gets down to 38F before shutting it down. But how can you tell how cold the water is?

The simplest method is to pull up a bucket of water and stick a thermometer in it. This will tell you what the water temperature is right by your yacht without much involved. If you do not want to play around with buckets of water on frigid days, the other method is to look up the buoy data in your area. 

If you are in the Baltimore, MD area this winter, you can find the water temperature by clicking on the link below

All other buoys operated by NOAA can be found here, and you can search the list to find the weather station nearest your yacht. 

Keeping an eye on the water temperatures can give you plenty of warning when "shut down time" comes. The good thing about water temperatures is they don't change too quickly. If the temperature was acceptable this morning, it will be about the same this afternoon. Things that can make the water temperature fluctuate quickly are rain and snow. If you have a rain or snow storm, the water temperature where you float will change as the new water and its temperature flush out the old standing water where you are.

Shutting down your reverse cycle heater at the appropriate time this winter will keep you warm and the machinery in your boat operational for as long as possible.