Mussel Ridge 46: The Systems and Finish Phase

Final glasswork and interior systems for the Mussel Ridge 46 were key projects throughout the winter at Newport Yacht Builders. 

As December and a mild Newport winter arrived, work on the Mussel Ridge 46 at our build shop shifted to final assembly, fairing, finish, and the installation of systems.

With the boat moved inside (see “The Boatbuilding Phase”), we leveled the hull, set up staging, and got to work. The gantry was placed through the pilothouse in order to finish the installation of the engine brackets after new OEM parts arrived and the geometry was confirmed. We drilled and tapped the steel plates in the engine beds, then pulled out the brackets for blasting, priming and paint. 

One of the MR46’s custom engine brackets, ready for install

While that was happening, the hull-deck joint was glassed and faired in. The rubrail hides the glass work on the hull, but gelcoat would be needed in the waterways before non-skid went on the deck. The pilothouse sole was also bonded and tabbed in place. 

Stern tube fit, waiting for alignment and bonding into place

A straighter stern tube arrived and was machined for cutlass bearings and the shaft seal. With the engine finally landed on the engine beds, we optically aligned the tube and bonded it in. The stern tube was spot on, and the engine was within a few thousandths. The final engine alignment to the shaft and shaft coupling will happen once the boat is in the water. 

During the months of January and February, we focused on interior paint and systems—work that sometimes doesn’t mix well, but we planned the work and protected against dust to mitigate any problems. 

Interior work in this phase combined bonding components in place, fairing, and then fairing more in preparation for primer

Pilothouse components including nav station and dash are glued in place

The cabinetry, which had been faired, primed, and finished painted previously, was bonded in place during this time. Some parts, like the upper bunk and head components, needed to be structurally bonded to the hull, so tabbing and the resulting finish work was completed. By the middle of February we were into high build and finish prime of bulkheads and overheads.

Insulation and conduit take their place in the engine room; Bondal is the white paneling going up, which adds a measure of sound proofing.

Working with Ransom Morse of Buzzards Bay Boatworks and John Arruda of Ethos Marine Systems, the engine room conduits and penetrations were installed to previously designed layouts. Insulation and Bondal paneling went up, and then engine room systems were installed and plumbed by Ransom.

Ransom Morse, of Buzzards Bay Boatworks, uses a laser for precise layout of wiring and plumbing

John Arruda and his team from Ethos Marine Systems began mounting their equipment as well. Special care has been given to locating the electrical systems for safety, ease of access, and maintenance—and to arranging the electronics and navigational systems for functionality and ease of use. 

The electrical system, designed and installed by Ethos Marine Systems is housed on the starboard side of the engine room

The mast has been rigged for radar, KVH satellite antenna, FLIR infrared camera, an array of other antennas and Durabright lights, nav lights and a 40-foot “green stick.”

Fabrication of the mast by Kevin Christensen (aka The Metal Guy) is well under way. The fit and installation will wait until the boat moves back outside, but it will be wired and the majority of the electronics and electrical gear will be mounted prior to its being stepped on the boat. 

Fish holds are prepped and tankage is in place—12 compartments in all—before the stern deck goes on

Back aft, we installed the fuel tanks, bonded in the foundation for the rudder gear and hydraulics, and prepped and painted the fish holds with high-build primer. 

The painting team sprays a finish coat in the Mussel Ridge 46 companionway.

The cabin and pilothouse were sealed off at this point, and we sprayed topcoat throughout the interior. With boatbuilding and finish work now complete in these areas, surface protection went on and we handed them off to the systems guys to do their installation work.

Spraying the topcoat in the pilothouse interior

On March 1st, we began installing the aft deck, followed by the side decks and the deck hatches built by Nautilus. By the end of the month, gussets supporting the side decks will be glassed in place, and details such as the tuna door and transom steering station will be completed.

Aft deck and side decks are in place and ready for final glassing

There’s plenty of work yet to do, including finishing the exterior, mounting hardware and running water, electrical and hydraulic runs in the cockpit. Then we’ll call the boat hauler and deliver the boat to the Shipyard for final fit-out.

—Jim Thompson