Caravel Update

I simply can not believe that so much time has passed since my last update. Time is literally running away from me. So much has happened since July, but where to start?
The Caravel, also known as Texas Belle, is very close to completion now. All the interior attributes have been built, for the most part. Lots of detail work left, such as finish wiring, lighting etc. But all the fabrication is just about finished.

After building a new galley counter from solid mahagony, adding a birch top to it, and merging it into the existing cabinetry, our client decided to replace all the interior wood, and ordered new bath cabinets, new overheads, and all new doors and interior attributes for the cabinets.

Galley cabinet with sealed, raised refrigerator compartment.

Galley cabinet, before finishing, during fitment.
My client chose a 4-burner stove insert with a broiler below. The sink is a Spinflo kitchen centre, with glass lid and untility bowl inside. Below the stove top is a large cabinet for eventual use of either a microwave, or convection oven.

Cut and machined door frames.

Assembled doors, yet to be inset-machined. These will be closely fitted to the individual frame. Allowances for road vibration and atmospheric influences are essential.

All the doors and also the counter top, lined up for a minimum of 3 finishing coats.

This is the look we are after. Doors that protrude minimally, and no metal hardware other than hinges, slides and stays. The handle doubles as ventilation for the cabinet. This during a test fit of one of the overhead doors to the new overhead cabinet.

…like this….

Through the bath window, towards front. The contrast from the AL interior skins to this wonderfully warm mahagony tone is stunning. It tends to reflect upon itself…very charming.

The new walls facing the bath were covered with aluminum, to bring some of the metal vibe into the bathroom.

Dinette table, mahagony with aluminum edge profile. The edging provides an interesting vertical element to the interior. It will be repeated on certain shelves, and also on ledges in the galley. We achieved a silky smooth finish on this table, as well as on the galley counter top. Makes me want to touch every time I go by…

A spacious drawer, easily accessible during setup and teardown. This is under teh curb side dinette seat.

A zipdee awning for the patio side…and also a window awning for the street side. Unfortunately, the window awning won’t arrive until Jan 2011. Looks like it will be the very last thing added to this Caravel.

In the next update, which will follow very soon, the new solar system, wiring, and better interior photos will be posted. Stay tuned!

today’s temps: 50’s, raining epically hard.

today’s tunes: Tom Waits, Mule Variations