Boat Construction (3)

 My next mission was making a plinth of toilet.

In the begining, I surched the types of toilets and basins which were suitable size and design for our boat. I decided to use 'Lever pump toilet' and white colour 'Oval basin'. Also I needed to apply the ergpnomic, because if the toilet is set too high, users may experience an inconvenience. Thus, as the height of toilet, I had to alter the height of plinth as well.  

Firstly, I found that around 400(mm) was common height of toilet by measuring school toilets. The height of toilet which is using in our boat was 340(mm), so I thought about 60(mm) tall was enough for plinth. However, I should consider about water pipes which are going through under the plinth. If plinth is too low it would difficult to setting and fixing thoes inner systems. After I discussing with my tutor, I confirmed the height of plinth as 150(mm).

 Actually, it was designed  that the end of plinth meets in the middle of basin, so users are able to put their foot on the conner when they are using the basin. However, by the reason of the low cabin roof, user may not bend their back naturally, if they take a step on the conner. I also wondered that it might be difficult to clean up later, beacuse of the narrow conner.  Most of all, it did not looking good in my view. I suggested my tutor to change the shape of plinth. My counterplan was covering two different curves with a long wavy shape and rotating the position of basin toward bulkhead. I believed it gave an unity both the basin and toilet. Eventually, it would be looked more stylish.

Fortunately, my tutor accepted my idea, but how I am making the bend shape timber was the problem for sloving.  Several ideas were suggested; 1. Sreaming the timber and bend it. 2. Carving the timber with tools 3. Laying thin timbers and bend them(laminating). My tutor and I concluded to use a laminating technique which I learnt from former project, so I felt comfortable to do it.

At the first,I obtained three thin ply woods by dressing one thick timber. It was able to bend without steaming. Then, I prepared some wooden blocks and clamped them with the laminated timbers after guling. 

After finishing laminating, I cut both ends evenly, and joined two thick ply woods.

The next step was pretty tricky, because I had to make a door on the curved basin body.  Cutting off on curved surface with  a jig saw was not easy. Moreover, I had to gave  exactly same radius all of four conners. Above all, there was any other replacement thing, when I make a mistake. Although I felt nervous, I managed and completed it well.    

I attached doublers inside of basin body and tried to close the door. However,curiously it does not fit. One edge of door was twisted and it was wobbling. My tutor said that it caused by lack of gluing. Former students who made this, less cared when they did laminating. I discovered the gaps form the body. I filled the gap with glue powder and sanded the surface for makig the body and the door even.