65. The Shelf

64. Sheeting On Right

63. Interior Update

The exhaust fan has been installed.  Took a lot of elbow grease to get the exhaust tube to cooperate but it finally worked.  On the topside I was able to bend the metal to make a lip over the edge, hit it several times with a brad nailer, then epoxied the whole thing to secure and make sure it is forever waterproof.

The board below the window has been cut and installed.  There is an incredible amount of work and detail in this one 30 7/8” board that you will never see, that is the beauty of it.  The piece actually fits in up under the metal window sill and has a cut away of 1/8” to make it all fit.  Just super detailed for what no one will ever know except me.

62. Galley Hatch

The galley hatch seal has long deteriorated. It was wood on wood to keep water and weather out. In this photo I have started to cut off the outer edge of the galley hatch in order to later install a proper weather tight seal.  Additionally, the hatch panel is separated from the ribs at both the top and bottom.

61. Roof Separation

Above you can see how the roof has separated from both the ceiling rib and the cross rib.  It was originally constructed using fine thread dry wall screws.  As miles and miles of vibration add up, the fine thread screws pull out as if they were nails.  This is a crucial area, as the galley hatch lid is also anchored to the cross rib.

A lot of cleanup work with a router, then glue, clamps, and new screws make for a great repair and result in a stronger structure than original.

60. Damage to Repair

Dry rot has created a soft spot up front, seen here where the paint looks wrinkled. Very weak.

Rear hatch shows rot, damage, and panel separation from frame.

Rear sidewall has been damaged and rotted.  The gap here is nearly 3/4" going at least 4 feet forward.

None of this damage is insurmountable.  Ready for the challenge!

59. Next Project

This winter's project is to breathe new life into a very beloved, very well used, Teardrop Trailer. The teardrop "Atti" belongs to a friend of ours. She has put north of 20,000 miles on it all across the country. But it needs some TLC. Time and weather have not been kind. There is water damage, dry rot, panel separation, leaks and more. I have a vision of bringing this baby back better than ever! I started work back in December but will roll out updates slowly. I don't want to give too much away on the final delivery.