Real Men Admit Mistakes

[ddeaton]

Ok, I didnt notice it until midnight while cutting and chopping on all my quarter sawn cypress. I was laying out the cockpit deck planks and realized that I installed my hatch frame on center with the centerboard case instead of the keel centerline. :o The subfloor and frame was already glued and screwed, so I think about it for a minute, and decide to go on. It looks good, and my excuse is, more walkway on that side of the hatch to get into the cabin.:) It is only offset 3" So here is the pic so far.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid210/peb92b06985699459fbefb71025b1cb9b/edb40e02.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid210/p18bfca0252861c7cf624c9b4ddb04928/edb41146.jpg
So, what do ya think?

[Paul Girouard]

Re -do it it looks wierd . I'd never be happy with it, YMMV.

Danny ya need a night off, maybe sitting at the computer loading some photo's into Photo bucket , ya know relaxing :)

[maa. melee]

Add 3 inches to the starboard side and add 3 inches to the forward edge=bigger hatch.

[ddeaton]

I am getting in too big a hurry. Trying to get it on the water before it turns to ice.:)

[ddeaton]

Add 3 inches to the starboard side and add 3 inches to the forward edge=bigger hatch.
I thought about that too.....winter project though. Mast will be here in a couple weeks and want to get wet.

[Keith Wilson]

Symmetry is overrated. I'd leave it.

[kc8pql]

I'd just leave it too. That's the kind of thing nobody will notice unless you point it out, and if they do, they'll just think it's designed to be that way for some reason.

[Tom Hunter]

Why is it off center?

Because I built it that way

:)

[Garrett Lowell]

That's not a mistake! That's a design modification based on your years of experience and your personal preference. (She looks nice! I also can't wait to see you get her out on the water).

[Thorne]

Only you will notice it...so don't worry!

;0 )

[Keith Wilson]

Since there's no functional reason to put the thing on center, I think the relevant question is, "Will it bother you?" If it does, and you leave it, then you'll be compelled to point it out to everyone who comes on board, and they'll think you're a tiresome perfectionistic old coot (don't ask me how I know this :rolleyes: ). OTOH, if it doesn't bother you, no problem. Fewer things bother me than when I was younger.

[JimConlin]

Generations of software engineers have become creative at explaining why their code's 'anomalous' behavior is OK. In fact, it was planned that way.
That's not bug, it's a feature." is the oft-heard cry.
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/7360/bug0cl.jpg

[brad9798]

Widen it or forget it ... either way.

Tell them, if they ask, to walk on the starboard side, as the deck area is larger by design.

[Bill Perkins]

I would suck it up and redo the work befor putting more time into it . I don't think it's meaningful to call it a 3 in. error . Instead I'd look at the size of the error as being the percentage difference between the border on the Starboard and Port sides of the hatch . It's big , and I think it will look worse once it's installed in your symmetric boat . A certain amount of wasted stock and labor is just part of what we do as amateur boat builders . I can sympathize .

[JimD]

The boat is ruined. Give it to me and start a new one.

[paladin]

as Jim Brown once said to me "Stop trying to make everything perfect...just go sailing"!:D

[htom]

If you're going off far offshore, I'd be a little concerned that you might get water below when the port rail goes under (and if that worries you, you've got to move it.)

Otherwise, say you wanted a wider place to stretch out on the deck.

[Stiletto]

Maybe a third option is to make the hatch cover wider so it is symmetrical when closed.
I am trying to think what a 3" wide box built beside the hatch could be used for.

Edited to add, you are doing nice work there.

[geeman]

If thats the worst problem you run into Then you didnt run into any problems,finish and dunk it

[Hal Forsen]

I am a tremendous fan of the Japanese aesthetic concept Wabi Sabi:
"Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. It is a beauty of things modest and humble. It is a beauty of things unconventional. ...
Could be why I like work boats more then gold platers and Krenov more then Chippendale....
Things that are perfect give me anxiety.
If it doesn't bother you, it won't bother me.;)
The boat's looking great BTW
HF

[Jay Greer]

You might be amazed to find how many boats are built with components off center.
They still sail just fine!
JG

[Ken Hutchins]

Mistake #2 telling everybody, we all make a few now and then, just fix to the print or revise the print or invent a reason for it be like it is, get the boat built and go sailing.

[ssor]

Just how important is it? The port side of my companion is on the center line of the boat. Does it trouble me? not in the least. I didn't build it that way and I ain't gonna change it!

[Brian Palmer]

You put it off center so you will have more room to put a bailing bucket or sponge down next to the keel instead of on top of it, just in case.

-- Brian

[kc8pql]

....and realized that I installed my hatch frame on center with the centerboard case instead of the keel centerline.
OK, I just re-read the original post and now I'm confused. The centerboard is not centered in the boat?

[Bayboat]

Rhodes designed many a nice boat with an offset main hatch. Don't sweat it; finish up and go saiing.

[garyspear]

if the centerboard isn't in the center of the boat why should the hatch be.

The boat looks great only change it if it realy bothers you. after all, you are the one you need to please.

[DJM]

If you center the hatch, then everyone will be asking you why the ceterboard is off center. Now with the hatch and centerboard all on the same centerline, it looks like it was intended to be that way.

btw, The boat looks great!

[scepticus]

OK, I just re-read the original post and now I'm confused. The centerboard is not centered in the boat?

I guess that makes it the off-centerboard. :-)

[Cec]

A "down and dirty" photoshop of what extending it would resemble:
http://home.comcast.net/%7Ececallred/mod.jpg