FRP. Some good outcomes.

Oh well, we had some half models finished to the Moulding stage but only one removed from the mould on site.
Two others left UNitec with the Mouldings yet to be de-moulded.
But looking OK.

Many thanks to Alan Wright for allowing us the use of the Lotus 9.2 lines drawings for the FRP projects.
Well done Tobias, Adam and Ben. (Though I know Ben has a bit of pre-release from overly thick gelcoat on keel foil.

Here are some photos of end days stuff.

Parting link from Inchie (Yin Li)

http://www.clubmarine.com.au/internet/clubmarine.nsf/docs/mg21-3+technical

Finished? relative thing that.

 Difficulties abound with the concept of leaving the final due dates for major portfolios hand-in until as late as possible. These difficulties include:

1.  Students tend to take time out of the practical experiences in the workshop (which is where they get evidence to complete 'portfolio of evidence') in order to rush portfolio docs. (poor scheduling)
2. Students therefore need to be aware of their efficient use of time planning throughout the year in both allowing time for the practical 'timetabled' contact and the self directed time needed to complete portfolio building reflection and readings. (This is pointed out to them often but...)
3. Students' tend to bring late or very late work to their tutors on or near the last day of the course. This is unacceptable but... Do we follow Unitec policy or allow some slack? How would i feel if I worked hard to complete on time and then find a 'slacker' had been allowed to hand work in late? Student success and retention? is it a real record?

These reflections are the sort of issue the students are well aware of. Some, indeed, play up/take advantage of the complexities involved to gain some leverage. Tutors, after all, are not policemen.

I need to address these issues before I 'kick off' with next years' group.

The down side for this year is...We lost approx three weeks work in finishing the Wilson 8M Launch. This takes some of the gloss off an otherwise terrific project. 

Hmmmmmm.

Where does all the Time go?

It's interesting how when students' start to undertake the portfolio for the Boat Construction course, all of a sudden I get asked, "Hey Merf, the learning outcome that says "Plan the building process" does that mean we have to work out what to do?"

Reply: YEP.

I've guided the team into taking control of the project as much as possible. This is not without its' risks, but long term it forces the guys to Think ahead, Communicate, Record actions and materials etc... The challenge is theirs, not mine.

I see some good progress.

The LO "Plan the building process" therefore requires some hindsight/reflection of a prior experience in boat building. Ideally this would come from the small craft build experiences, because it is hard to plan with out some experience.

Unfortunately for some participants the small craft projects were anything but smooth sailing experiences as far as working in a team, may fractions and in-fighting had a devastating effect upon the teams. Not all was lost... just some growing up to do in one or two cases. Fortunately this did happen and some deep soul searching redirected these members back on track.
Perhaps the recognition that we seldom chose who we directly work with is a timely eye opener.
This difficulty aside, it has still placed some students behind 'where I would have hoped'  in developing their construction skills.

The experience has happened now (partly in the Boat Construction project) and the planing is now over to the students. A good facilitator should 'back off' in order for the independents to be allowed to happen. A nervous time to be sure. Experiencing the chaos is a term often heard. It actually is a valuable part of the learning process.

The final foam cores and outer laminates for the side decks are urgent, as is the window flange secondary laminates.
Some initial fairing of cabin surfaces has started and this I hope will be shared around, as "real world" grunt work is the reality for many starters in the marine industry.

One frustrating area is around student attendances, or lack there of. 

This can mean the difference between success and failure of the project goals we have set ourselves. 

In general we have some guys arriving late every day, some absent without even informing fellow students that they will be away. 

Fortunately we have a nucleus of guys that are regularly here and it shows in their attitudes and abilities. Good for you guys, you know who you are.

Time for all to dig in and stop mucking about. There are few if any of the processes between now and the end of the year that are new to any of you.

I get very impatient when I know the tasks are do-able by the students' without my regular input, but I still get guys asking questions they know the answers to. Hmmmm?

The photo to the left is early afternoon, the guys, (without much input from me) have finally set themselves to task. The sidedeck foam core and vacuum bagging. Only about 2 hours late.

We have three weeks including this week to complete the project.
That equates to only 7.5 days plus any time saved in the Wednesday FRP practicum work which is only piecework from here. I have outlined the processes now we just have to do it.

Mac AutoCAD classic view

I Just needed to save this info somewhere.

http://docs.autodesk.com/ACD/2010/ENU/AutoCAD%202010%20User%20Documentation/index.html?url=WSfacf1429558a55de6d0beb1006696e53b-736e.htm,topicNumber=d0e9166

Tidy powerpoint on Google+

This is a good clear pathway to make sense of the how and why of google+

https://plus.google.com/114831291174925522786/posts/CoVGAath7TX

USU Rate My Course.

Hi Guys.

below is a link you may wish to use.
it gives you a voice to rate the six courses you are undertaking in the CAT Boatbuilding.
This is facility that the student USU sets up as an independent  means for student voice.

http://www.usu.co.nz/rate-my-course/ratings/?programme=911140004

You'll need your student login to participate.


This is also separate from the in-house feedback questionnaires i send out in google forms to you all.
Merf

Jobs yet to do Wilson 8m

The items below are to give you a general overview of the jobs yet to do on the boat.
I'm taking this from the expected stage we should attain by the end of this week.
The list therefore is from your fist day back after the midterm break.
We do not have a 'work experience week' available, so return to Unitec will be the 24th October.


In general, the below jobs already have set to be done by certain students.
it is obvious that each of these topics and 'jobs to be done' are more complicated than the short description outlined here.
It is incumbent on each student to identify the more detailed events around each job and acknowledge the learning these jobs have promoted by writing it up. E.g. Blogs, portfolios, Collaborative google-docs, etc...


Deck/Cabins:

fairing of all foam cores fitted to date.
Insert edging pieces and manually fit..
Inner laminate for the side decks.
Cores vacuum bagged for the side decks.
Side deck foam cores faired.
Cabin top outer laminates. This includes extra laminates to produce a flange for the window rebates.
Foredeck outer laminates.
side decks outer laminates.
Filling and fairing entire outside surfaces of deck and cabin tops. This includes replacing the window pattens to build an edge for fairing to the shape.
Trim accurate rebate window areas.
Temporary splashes (cradle) for the deck/cabin to sit in in the hotbox.
Removal of product from mould.
Placing in the hotbox for post curing.



Hull and interior:

Water tank area. hatches, Seacocks, water pipe run,
Head area doors, plinth, cabinet, fwd berth entrance trim, stiffener on fwd bulkhead.
cabinet top and basin.
Fuel tank fitted and held. Cabin sole glued in sheathed filled and faired.
Allowance for removable bottom of galley return piping etc...
galley bench sink fitting, cooker shelf and locker below. gas bottle shelf and outboard venturii vent.
Battery locker and seat plinth.
dropped sole over water piping, glued, sheathed and filled and faired.
Steering helm location and items.
hydraulic tubing ran, wiring loom run aft and to battery box.
access through bulkhead into head cabinet for hidden cabling.
Transducer fitted aft under engine locker,
Engine locker glassing and items fitted filled and faired.
coving all areas.
Aft boarding step and quarter badge.
Aft boarding door cutouts.
Fwd (anchor) bulkhead coved and glass taped with EDB430-100 tape. filled and faired.
Underside of gunwale small cove to tidy.


Hull /Deck joining:

Scribing bulkheads and fitting deck to the hull.

Gluing and fastening to the hull.

cleanup and coving inside join. Glass taping?

outboard gunwale toerail/belting?

General Filling, Fairing. undercoating (probably with roller sleeves)