Alignment

While Jim and his fellow woodworking associates are busily preparing wood Jimsanding_1components such as this bi-fold door, the folks out in the first assembly bay are performing the alignment. This is a critical step in the assembly process. First they ensure that the stringers are all on the same plane so that everything starts on an "even keel"  (pardon the pun). Once the large cabin sole part is in place, bonded to the stringers and taped around it’s perimeter, the larger pieces of furniture can all be loaded into the hull. 

None are "taped" into their final position until the critical alignment dimensions are checked. The deck is a very complex shape and when that deck comes down onto the hull, each interior component must be in precisely the right place for the deck installation to go right. High volume production builders who do not "stick build" like we do, avoid possible errors by, in some cases, assembling interiors to the deck and in other cases, building furniture which does not extend up as high Engineroom_1as the deck within the interior. The gain for them is time but the loss is strength and integrity. They cannot "tab" (attach with fiberglass tapes) the interior components to the deck or hull sides. Tabbing is the best way to get a strong assembly of all of the parts. In Sabres, each interior component is attached to the hull with fiberglass tapes and becomes an integral part of structure. I’m rambling on this topic. I may swing back and visit it again later. It’s important.

Once the alignment is done the mechanics start their very important work. Here’s Les installing the major drive train components. He has just placed the two Cummins 425 HP QSB series electronically controlled diesel engines on the stringers and done a first alignment of the engines using a laser and target located in the cutlass bearing. Exhaust hoses are hooked up, the PSS dripless shaft seals are installed and things are looking good. Note the platform between the two ZF gears where the Onan EQD gen set will be installed next.

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