PHOTO WITH IMPORTANT INFORMATION

[bob mitchell]

This photo shows floor 29, which is the floor in the center of the mizzen mast step. The front of the mizzen mast step sits in floor 30, while the back, because of the steep rise in the apron, sits in front of floor 28 (at least on my boat, hull 113). The apron is the 6 layers of 3/4 plywood that essentially run the length of the boat (until it intersects the forefoot at the front of the boat - the forefoot being about 9" long and connected to the stem). The apron forms the structural pivot between the frames and mast of the upper boat and the deadwood and keel of the lower part of the boat. The floors are connected to the apron by galvanized 1/2x12" thru bolts upwards, and the ballast keel by 7/8" bronze thru bolts downwards.  I mention this because you can see a bolt hole below floor 29. The reason there is no bolt is that the mast step must be in place and drilled so that the bolt holds it to the floor and apron. The same configuration holds for floor 30, as well as the main mast step.

     If you look at the photo you can see fresh sanding on the edge of the apron. That is because I did not bevel the last layer of apron  in the aft area because the bottom planking intersects the apron at a lower and lower angle as the transom is approached. I imagine that originally they had a set of tables , or the jigs, etc, that did the bevel variation, but I just eye balled a smooth transition from the steep to the shallow bevel along the apron.