The pilothouse floor is
14" above the main bridgedeck level, thus panoramic visibility from the helm
and settee is unobstructed except by the mast tube. All four
corners of the vessel are within sight of the helmsman to facilitate
docking maneuvers. In this wireframe view, the slanted (15°)
front panels of the settee base are shown in green. The (28" x 12")
step, a flip-up box section which provides easy access to the storage
areas beneath the helm floor, is shown in blue. Floor joists are
shown in red.
The settee arm rests, shown in yellow,
are substantial structural members.
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| Copious volume is
available under the raised
pilothouse floor providing storage space for oversize items like water
skis, parasails and kites. Unique slide-out storage bins are
provided for easy access to "bathroom" inventory from each hull. All
ventilation ductwork is built-in and designed to optimize climate
control system efficiency. Space for installation of a central
air conditioner unit is provided under the aft section of the
settee. The complex web of floor joists and panels also enhance
the vessel's robust structure. |
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Music systems and CD
storage are located to starboard of the steps for easy access from the
helm, salon and master suite stairway. Audio amplifiers occupy
the sub-floor area directly beneath the stereo controls. Cooling
is provided by a small duct from the main air-conditioning
plenum. I layed-out the locations of all floor joists and panels
on the bridge deck floor to facilitate installation.
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The 2 5/8" main center
beam was attached to the mast support / settee arm. Two 1 1/2"
joists were installed next. One supports the long edge of the
settee base's forward face panel while the other supports the floor
area under the helm and stiffens the step's hinge area.
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The joists which form the
plenum walls of the ventilation ducts were installed between the center
beam and the large outer joists. The aft face of the raised floor
attaches to the settee aft arm and spans the entire width.
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| The flip-up stair section
was installed next. All that remains is lamination of the joists
to the bridgedeck and installation of the two 4' x 8' Nida-Core 1"
thick floor panels. Installation of the main 2 1/2" bulkheads,
either side of the mast tube, is being withheld to facilitate access to
the floor joists during lamination. |
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