1. A presentation showing the construction of the boat
Fly Away
The weekly s & photo updates from the builder DAIGLE WELDING & MARINE form the foundation of this presentation.
It shows the construction progress from start to finish.
Provides an insight on how materials, superb craftsmanship, and about 1600 man-hours translates into a quality product.
We are grateful for this record of construction and the memories of this experience.

2. The beginning…
Week 1
March 7, 2003
Norm has been busy making up hull components this week. He should be able to start hull assembly on Monday. Next Friday you will have pictues of your hull being assembled.

3. Week 2
March 14, 2003
Norm is well underway on your hull now. Unfortunately he has the flu, as well as 5 others here including myself. He has had to take a couple of afternoons off this week. If he feels better this weekend he said that he will try to make up for it.

4. Week 3
March 21, 2003
This week Norm has completed tacking together your hull plating. Kirby has fabricated your fuel tank and has started to weld up your hull. Norm will continue on with putting on hull stiffener excrusions.

5. Week 4
March 28, 2003
Kirby and Drew have been busy welding up your hull and are now putting on the lift strakes. Your hull will be flipped back over on Monday and hopefully it will never be upside down again. Next week Norm will be starting your cuddy. Clark will be fabricating and installing your gunwales and Jim wiil be starting on your bulkheads and storage and engine compartments.

6. Week 5
April 4, 2003
We flipped your hull back over on Monday. Norm has started on your cuddy bulkhead then will be carrying on with the rest of the cuddy. Clark is putting on your gunwales. Jim will be starting your watertight engine and storage compartment bulkheads and compartments on Monday.

7. Week 6
April 11, 2003
We got a lot done on your boat this week. Norm has been working on your cuddy cabin. Clark has installed your fuel, water and holding tanks, and is doing framing and the cabin sole. Jim has fabricated and installed both watertight bulkheads and is working on engine and storage compartments. James will be starting your cabin late next week.

8. Week 7
April 16, 2003
Your update is early this week, as Chris who sends this out is going fishing Thursday and we are closed for Easter Friday. We will be back to work Monday morning. We have got lots done on your boat so far this week. Norm will have the aluminum work done on your cuddy tomorrow. Clark is busy installing tanks, framing and building your cabin sole (floor). Jim is working on your engine and storage compartments. James will be starting your cabin next week. Have a nice Easter weekend.

9. Week 8
April 25, 2003
This week Clark finished your cabin sole, tank installation and raised floor sections for settee and helm seat to seat on. Jim has got a couple more days on your engine and storage compartments and will be done. Clark has started your swim grid and is welding up the hull stiffener excrusions. James has a good start on your cabin.

10. Week 9
May 2, 2003
Things are moving along and we got a lot done this week. James has been busy building your cabin. Jim has finished your engine and storage compartments. Ken has started plumbing in the tanks and working on the cuddy, head compartment, thru hulls and vanity.

11. Week 10
May 9, 2003
This week Ken has been busy plumbing tanks and systems. We’re getting ready to hopefully spray in floatation next week. James has finished your cabin, dodger and engine compartment air intake system. Jim is putting side shelves in cockpit. Clark has fabricated and installed swim grid, trim tab blocks and welded on zinc anodes to the hull. .

12. Week 11
May 16, 2003
Steve reported last week that he would be at the Boats Afloat Show on Lake Union this week so I would not be getting an update this week. <Elaine & I went to the boat show to see the interior on one of their 29’ boats to help us in the decision process>
Week 12
Continued…

13. Week 12 continued
May 23, 2003
It was nice meeting you at the show. We have now pretty much finished up all of the welding on your boat except for installing the radar and antenna arch which is already made. We will be moving your boat into the rigging shop on Tuesday morning. We will be ready for your visit next week...

14. Week 13
May 30, 2003
Mid-construction visit to Campbell River. A chance to see the boat first hand. Boat moved from welding shop to rigging shop. Decision point in selecting fabrics, laminates, flooring, colors, cabinetry, location of items in cabin, and other items.

15. Week 14
June 6, 2003
This week Lee, Merv and Rick have all been busy on your boat. Lee has been installing engine beds, shelves for batteries, walkway, and started to do the plumbing and electrical. Jeff has been working on installing stuff on your arch and external components, as the cabin is too busy with Merv and Rick in there. Merv & Rick have put down your flooring, insulation and are working on laminate on the cabin and hull and sides and bulkheads.

16. Week 15
June 13, 2003
The guys have been busy this week rigging, wiring, plumbing and doing the interior. Merv has put all the laminate in the cabin and head compartment.  The flooring and angle trim has been completed and is now covered so it doesn't get damaged.  Merv is now doing the teak trim.  Lee is busy rigging your engine compartment while Jeff is rigging and wiring your dash.  Aaron is putting in your windows.

17. Week 16
June 20, 2003
We got lots of work done on your boat this week. Lee has just about finished your engine compartment, less installing your engines. Merv and Rick have been busy doing trim mouldings and cabinetry. Rick has about finished the teak trim. Merv has your galley and wet locker set in place now and the cupboard in the cuddy roughed in. Jeff has been busy all week with wiring. In all, there was about 160 hours put in this week on your boat.

18. Week 17
June 27, 2003
Jeff has been busy wiring in your cabin & galley. Lee has been doing your AFT station, propane system, locking system for storage and engine compartment, installed and run inverter and furnace. Merv has finished galley and Rick is finishing off trim and molding. Class A Interiors has finished the hull liner in the cuddy cabin. Lee says he can see the light at the end of the tunnel and hopes that it is not a train coming. Next week I will get Sue to calculate how many hours left on rigging, cabinetry and painting. Next week will be a short week with us shut down Monday and Tuesday for Canada Day.

19. Week 18
July 4, 2003
This week was a short week with having Monday & Tuesday off to celebrate Canada Day. Jeff & Lee have been busy wiring, plumbing and installing.  Emerson has been painting the bottom and detailing railing, etc.  Merv has started your settee and Rick has finished up the teak trim and fiddles. Take care, and have a nice July 4th weekend.

20. Week 19
July 10, 2003
Things are moving along nicely on the "Fly Away".  This week Merv has been working on your settee, co-pilot side console, drawers and cupboard doors.  He should have most of the cabinetry completed and installed next week.  Lee and Jeff have installed your shiny KAD300 engines and have both been busy with other electrical, plumbing and rigging. Aaron is installing the D-rubber around the shear line and Toby will be doing the foredeck and gunwale non-skid tonight. We may have it in the water late next week, or the week following for a quick run prior to it going to the paint shop.  I would like to confirm the water line and prop size. Dave at Class A Interiors is off on holidays until the 21st of July.  He says that he will have everything completed by the end of July.  We are shooting for delivery the first week in August.

21. Week 19½
July 16, 2003
Did a short seatrial and checked water line today. Tide was running pretty strong. Did a both way speed test and it looks like you have a 31 Knot to 32 Knot Cruiser at 3,400 RPM and a top Speed at 37 1/2 Knot to 38 Knot at 3,950 RPM. Thought she sat in the water nice & high though there was only 30 gallons of fuel and a little water. Once she is fueled and outfitted she will sit a couple of inches lower in the water. The C-5 props were bang on with the engines turning up to 3950 and 4000 rpm. Once she is loaded you should still get 3850 to 3900.rpm.

22. Week 20
July 18, 2003
Merv and Rick have pretty much finished the cabinetry now and are oiling trim and installing shelves, doors and drawer faces. Aaron has finished the D-Rubber and Ken has Zolatoned the aft deck area.  Toby will be doing the aft deck and swim grid non-skid on Monday.  Jeff is installing last minute little items and doing pre-delivery inspections.  Lee is off delivering a 28'er to Friday Harbour and back.  Neil will be painting your boat on Thursday.  Dave will be back from holidays on Monday and will be starting your cushions.

23. Week 21
July 25, 2003
Most of this week has been focused on painting and clear coating.  As of today the cabin and dodger have been painted white and the aluminum not being painted including hull stiffener have been clear coated.  I asked Neil why he painted the dodger white and he said it saves a lot of masking time and that he will paint it blue, along with the hull tonight and tomorrow. Dave and his crew from Class A Interiors have been busy making up seats and cushions.  Your helm and co-pilot seats are in and look very nice.  Great choice of fabric!  On Monday Grant Signs will be putting on name. Merv has finished up all the cabinetry.  Jeff and Lee have about ½ a day left to finish.  Window covers will be done on Tuesday, then sea trials, P.D.I.'s and clean up, ready for you to take her home.  Only 12 more sleeps! 

24. Grant Signs will be putting on name on dodger some time today.
Week 22
July 29, 2003
Grant Signs will be putting on name on dodger some time today. 

25. Week 23
Aug 6, 2003
Elaine & I flew to Campbell River today for sea trials. Tomorrow, Fly Away heads south 240 nm to it’s home in Olympia.

26. Jim & Jeff Campbell River
Week 23
Jim & Jeff Campbell River
Jeff & Elaine Tacoma
Aug 7, 2003
One could not have asked for a nicer day for the trip. Fly Away performed beautifully. What a great boat. The 31 knot cruising speed made the day’s journey easy. Time under way (Campbell River to Olympia): 8 hrs. 45 mins.

27. Fly Away … Many thanks to all those involved in the construction of
Steve Daigle and his crew:
Norm
Kirby
Drew
Clark
Jim
James
Chris
Ken
Emerson
Lee
Jeff
Merv
Rick
Aaron
Toby
Sue
Bob
Geovanni
Class A Interiors: DaveTabish and crew
Painting: Willow Point Collision: Neill Foxcroft and crew
Grant Signs: Al Grant
Your professionalism made the experience a joy

28. The conclusion of construction and the start of living a dream that began long ago.
Fly Away …
August 7, 2003

29. Photography by: Daigle Welding & Marine Ltd. and, Jim Wick
Digital Image Editing: Adobe Photoshop 6.0
Presentation: Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
© 2003