Most of Team Möbius was MIA again this past week but once again the combination of those who were working along with the outside contractors working this week, a LOT of very eXciting progress was made this past week of Dec. 21-25, 2020. 

And somehow or another Christine and I also managed to include a wonderful Christmas celebration to end our week and carry on through to tonight, Sunday, when as soon as I finish writing up this blog post we will sit down to enjoy Christine’s turkey soup which is one of the many great outcomes of all the work she put in to create a fantastic gourmet Xmas turkey dinner with all the fixin’s’, dressing and gravy!  Guess what?  Turns out that I’m not the only turkey in Turkey!  Who knew??

As in some previous weeks, there were a lot of “small jobs” that we were able to check off the punch list this week and taken together they add up to a very big deal.  That saying “Don’t sweat the small stuff; and it’s ALL small stuff” could not be truer than in a big boat building project like this.  So I may jump around a bit but there is one eXtremely BIG job that got done this week and is an equally big part of the title of this week’s Progress Update.

But this blog post is between me and dinner so let me jump right in with what will likely be a very rapid fire Show & Tell which I hope you will still enjoy.

EXTERIOR PREP WORK:

We only had Uğur on the job for Monday and Tuesday this week but he still managed to be his usual productive self and looked after several important jobs such as this one. 

The shot is taken from down in the Engine Room looking up through the big open hatch overhead to catch Uğur finishing up the AlucoBond paneling that surrounds this hatch.

Up on the Aft Deck now, you can see how he had attached the AlucoBond outer liner to the Hatch itself last week, and also installed those beautiful Bofor dogs and latches that keep this hatch solidly in place and fully watertight.

This week he is finishing up the work on the AlucoBond walls and ceilings in the ER by using Sikaflex to adhere and seal the AlucoBond paneling that is bent up around the inside circumference of the opening such that the whole ER is fully sealed now.
Uğur was in an “AlucoBond state of mind” this week I guess so he also finished off the AlucoBond panels that form the ceiling above the Outdoor Galley on the Aft deck.
Hilmi has the LED lights all wired and snapped in place so Uğur was able to put in a small bead of Sikaflex around all the outside edges and around the support poles to seal the whole ceiling. 

eXciting for us to see as well was when this was the first area to have all that protective film with the Red & Black AlucoBond printing on it and reveal these very reflective satin White plated aluminium surfaces. 

Another one of those “small things” but what a difference to see these finished surfaces at last!
More small but important jobs done this week was when Ali finished covering all the newly applied TreadMaster non skid surfaces with some protective cardboard.  This is the Port/Left side of the Swim Platform and the stairs leading up to the Aft Deck. 

There is still a LOT of work to do to finish Möbius so these areas will be seeing a lot of foot traffic, tools and materials so the cardboard will help keep them clean and new till Launch Date.

The dogged door on the Right is the HazMat locker for any flammable or odiferous items we want to store onboard and keep completely isolated from the interior of the boat.  Winch handle is how you open the Bofor dog latches.
Opposite side of the Swim Platform with the WT door, currently removed, into the Workshop and Engine Room.
Ali also has all the Aft Deck all covered with cardboard sheets and fully taped down.
Same story up on the Front Deck and Anchor Deck TreadMaster.
All the solar panels are also covered with protective cardboard sheets.  In the case of the solar panels this is both to keep the glass surfaces clean as well as the safety aspect of keeping all sunlight off of these panels so that they are not generating any power that could cause problems to equipment and workers.

FINISHING UP the HOTWORKS on the TENDER:

Down on the shop floor off to the front right of Möbius, Nihat was also with us for Monday and Tuesday this past week and was able to finish off the last few small jobs to complete the “hotworks” or welding up of the Tender.

This is the Aft Port/Left corner of the Tender with the Engine Bay lid opened up.  Nihat is grinding all the welds down flush and then doing the final sanding of all the AL surfaces with a random orbital sander with the same finish that he has perfected from all his work doing the same to the outer surfaces and hull of Möbius.
A sneak peak at the interior of the Engine Bay where you can see the Port side Engine Bed starting where Nihat’s foot is and the framed opening for the Castoldi 244DD jet drive behind with the “Mickey Mouse” cut-out in the thick transom plate.

This will likely end the work on the Tender until after we launch Möbius and I can spend the time to do all the outfitting installing the Yanmar 110HP 4cyl diesel inboard engine and the jet drive.

SNEAK PEAK at the FINISHED INTERIOR:

An American couple and their son, who are also faithful followers here on the blog and have become very interested in having an XPM of their own, came by on Tuesday for an extended tour on Möbius and visit with Naval Yachts and the Free Zone. 

So on Monday we all pitched in to remove all the protective plastic and cardboard covering up all the interior surfaces so they could see what is underneath and the quality of work that Team Möbius is capable of producing.  Möbius received a much needed and very thorough cleaning to look her best for these prospective new XPM owners.

Both their visit and seeing Möbius at her clean and shiny best were equally eXciting for Christine and I, so let me capitalize on this opportunity to give all of you a sneak peek of the interior.  I will go through this in very rapid fire fashion, so hang on as we take you on a quick whirlwind tour of the freshly cleaned and exposed finished interior of mv Möbius

MASTER CABIN:

Staring up at the very front of the interior in the Master Cabin, this is the Vanity Sink which sits front and center up against the WT bulkhead with the Forepeak on the other (very well insulated )side. 

Flanked by the Washer & Dryer behind the Blue/Green leather doors on the Right and the Shower on the Left.

Almost complete and just waiting for the 2 thin strips of mirrors on either side of the soon to be mirrored door above the sink.

Sorry, I can never resist the glowing beauty of this unique hand painted all glass sink.

Note the combo 120V + 240V plug behind the sink and spread throughout this “world wired” boat.
Stepping back a bit will help orient you to the Master Cabin and you can now see the whole Starboard/Right side bank of cupboards and wardrobes with the Washer & Dryer at the front.

On the Left side is the door into the Head/Bathroom as well as the adjoining Shower hiding behind that etched glass corner wall.
Before I continue walking back, a quick peek through the door into the Head to show the matching rectangular Blue glass sink inside.  The vertical doors above are anxiously awaiting their mirrors.

Bidet VacuFlush toilet is just visible on the bottom Right and the adjoining Shower is on the far Left.
Continuing aft one step at a time reveals the full etched corner walls of the Shower.
One more step back and the Master Bed comes into view with its overhead boxed ceiling and the Bureau of Drawers on the far Right side which is also waiting for the big mirror that will soon be mounted inside the Rosewood framed side wall. 

Just wait till you see this space filled with a hanging 3D textile sculpture of our Möbius strip which our artist / niece Lindsey created for us!
Baking up ALL the way Aft in the Master Cabin and starting up the stairs to get this shot looking down into the entrance to the Master Cabin.

The door which goes here is one of our Swiss Doors that I’ve shown in previous months which do double duty by being a door in two positions.  Here it is the door in the large full height Wardrobe on the Right as you walk in here, and then this same door closes this entry into the Master Cabin itself.  Brilliant! if I do say so myself and eliminates one complete door here and two more back in the Guest Cabin.
Going back up to the front of the Master Cabin and looking Aft now, you can see how that door on the Left of the stairs is now closing off the Wardrobe behind it and can then be swung “open” to close off the Entryway into the Master Cabin.
One last shot in the Master Cabin before we head upstairs to check out the SuperSalon.  This is the two stairs that wind their way up to the platform on the Port/Left side of the bed.  This platform serves multiple purposes;

*  the HVAC Air Handler is housed below inside this platform

*  provides easy access for Christine getting In/Out of her side of the bed

* easy access when making the bed

* when on long passages and covered with a custom fit memory foam mattress, this platform transforms into a very safe and comfortable bed for whichever one of us in Off Watch in really rough weather where the high sides keep you safely snuggled into bed no matter what Mother Nature is doing to Möbius on the outside.

SuperSalon, GALLEY, MAIN HELM & LOUNGE areas:

Continuing with this “one step back” tour of the interior, let me head up the stairs out of the Master Cabin which you can see at the bottom Right here and take you on a quick tour of the whole SuperSalon.

Main Helm on the Left here and the forward end of the L-shaped Dinette seat on the bottom Right.
One more step back into the space where the Dinette Table will soon be mounted on that aluminium XY Slider peeking out of the bottom Left corner.  Dinette Settee on the bottom Right, Main Helm Chair middle Left with the forward electrical control panel partially open on the Right side of the Main Helm.

Two 19” touchscreen daylight readable monitors will soon be mounted into those two rectangular openings on the Black leather covered panel front and center of the Main Helm dashboard.
Sliding over to Port/Left for a better view of the Main Helm and where those two monitors will be mounted.  Stairs down to the Master Cabin through the space on the bottom Right.

Look closely and you will be reminded that all the 26mm triple laminated safety glass windows are now fully installed around all 360 degrees of this truly SUPER Salon.
Stepping back on the Port side the Dinette Settee comes into better view now and you can now see how that gorgeous Zwaardvis AL pedestal works.  Up/Down Z axis adjusts with an pneumatic lift cylinder inside the 2 stage pedestal and then the table top can be moved 200mm/8” in the XY axis to adjust the table to Goldilocks position Left/Right and Fore/Aft.
Pivoting to Stbd/Right side for a better view of the Settee, pedestal and a sneak peek into the Galley.
Stepping back yet another step or two to go up the stairs leading out of the SuperSalon to the Aft Deck, reveals the twin 130 liter side by side Vitrifrigo refrigerators nestled inside their Ro$ewood cabinets on the Left and some of the countertop Galley Garages on the Right.
Two more steps up those stairs to give you this shot looking forward and down into the Galley on the Right, dual door fridges on the Left and if you turn Left at the bottom of these stairs you will continue down a matching staircase to the Corridor leading to the Guest Cabin and Workshop.
Staying on that same top step at about Aft Deck height and pivoting towards the Stbd/Right side of the hull to give you this overhead view of the Galley and its surrounding Galley Garages.

Stepping into the Galley itself briefly to see the four burner Bosch induction cooktop with built in central exhaust fan and the matching Bosch Smart Oven that automagically combines convection, microwave and broiler elements to cook each dish to Goldilocks perfection.
Double SS sink inset into the Turkish Turquoise marble countertops.  Smaller faucet on the Right is plumbed direct to the 150L fresh water “Emergency Tank” that is independent of the rest of the fresh water system for some “just in case” backup of always ready very fresh water.
Moving forward for a change provides this perspective of the full Galley looking Aft towards the Rear Stbd/Right side.

Stairs up to the Aft Deck and the Outdoor Galley on the far Right here surrounded by windows, windows, windows with views, views, views everywhere you look.
Just before we leave the SuperSalon, a rightfully proud Sinan posing with his masterful upholstery work on the these Sky Blue Ultra Leather covered Settee cushions.  Just imagine what they will look like when we finally get to remove al their plastic covers!

Table is down close to its “bed” position here and the Black release handle for the XY slider is hanging down below waiting to be mounted to the underside of the table next week.
Trying not so successfully at being incognito, Captain Christine aka my Beautiful Bride, couldn’t resist the chance to try out her first sitting at the Dinette table with it now at full eating/working height.
Looking straight Aft at the stairs and out the door onto the Outdoor Galley on the Aft Deck here.  Dinette table back down into Bed mode with Coffee Table mode in between and the stairs leading down to the Corridor and Guest Cabin on the far Right.
Apologies for not getting better shots of it but over on the very Aft Left corner of the SuperSalon the stairs just out of sight below here lead down to the Corridor that takes you Aft through a WT Bofor door if you keep walking straight and if you turn Left you have the Guest Bathroom/Head on your Left, Shower on your Right.
If you walk straight ahead now, you enter Guest Cabin/Office and can see the fold down Latte coloured Ultra Leather Couch/Bed in the bottom Left with the Pullman Berth that Sinan is about to pull down above.
This Couch has been custom designed for Christine to be her Goldilocks “pondering pad” when she is cooking up the next plot twist in her next sure to be a best seller thriller novel with its super wide base to give her plenty of room to relax and curl up.

Then the bottom portion pulls all the way out towards you and turns this into a full Queen size bed.
Christine’s Office desk just visible on the far Right here with printer bay on the left side of the desk and plenty of bookshelves above and on the opposite side of the Couch

Need more bed space in the Guest Cabin you say?  No problem, flip up two latches ……………………..
…………….. and the Pullman Berth folds down to provide yet another single bed as Sinan demonstrates here.
Before you know it was Thursday and time to cover everything back up again for the next few weeks of finishing off the interior.
So here’s the deal folks.  It is now past 21:00 for me here in Antalya at the end of a wonderful Christmas weekend and the Chef has been eXtremely patient with me, yet again, and keeping her Turkey Soup on the boil.  I still have not gotten to that BIG exciting job that happened this week and is the key to the “Much Clearer” part of this post’s title BUT, I’m going to have to disappoint you or at least keep you waiting until next week to cover all that. 

For now, let me just end by wishing ALL of you a VERY Merry Christmas and that you all find ways to make this last week of 2020 as good as it can possibly be.  I’ll be back to you next weekend with the latest Weekly Progress Update and really hope you will join me again then.

-Wayne