In the past couple of weeks Tom Rogers has finished up most of the tower work and Barry Talbot of Ko'a Marine is sprinting to make our 7/24 deadline for the Simrad installations.  We are hoping to start puting some hours on the machinery and electronics this weekend and start proving out all of the systems packed on to our awesome 31' Contender!

Here are some shots of the progress-



The tower, custom tower floor and name by Realwood Sign / Kogler Graphix installed and ready for wiring.



A close-up shot of our custom made upper station which will include a full set of Simrad electronics, steering, electronic controls, compass, tab controls, 2 radios and custom seating.  Tom even did a custom "aristo blue" gelcoat job to match the hull color.





Tom painted and textured our custom tower floor to match the hull.  The lighting and over-head radio boxes were taped-off and gelcoated in bright white.  The deck lights and over head LED lighting is waiting to be flush-mounted by Barry.



This is our electronics control center located under the helm area and includes our 4 battery system and switches, all major breakers, electronic actuators and brains for our custom Morse KE-4 electronic engine controls, trim tab pumps for the giant K-Plane racing trim-tabs, and our 2-KW AC inverter/charger.  We might even have some storage space remaining when Barry is done with the electronics rigging!



Barry and I discussing electronics location and helm detailing.




Another shot of the upper station and deck light module under the tower floor, prior to the quartz light installation.  Check out our custom, over-sized, double-layered rocket launchers Tom fabricated!



Detail shot of the flush mounted LED pods in the tower floor.  Tom custom molded these pods and ran conduit though the tower floor before it was laid-up with fiberglass.  We will have 2 red and 2 white LEDs in this area when finished.  The aluminum rigging tube for the radio box ca be seen in this shot as well.

If all progresses as planned, we should have a few final shots of the custom polycarbonate helm enclosure and other custom canvas and seating in the next update.  Last night we installed all of the antennas, assembled the outriggers, fabricated a radome "tower", finished a load of electronics installations, put the CF numbers on the hull, and started prepping for the launch this afternoon.

Next week we will have shots of Knock Down in the water, and hopefully completed!

Stand by for more...GS