Quite early in this project I had planned to add some sort of framework in the bilge of this large flat-bottomed ship. This was to control free water and provide a platform to keep components like electronic modules out of any water. When I came to start on the motor mounts I realised that the bottom, being flat and not thick, was quite flexible and that the motors would therefore be able to move relative to their shafts, thus making alignment difficult. So I brought forward the framework installation and modified the idea slightly so that it provides stiffening to the bottom as well as water control. This was why the bow-thruster needed fitting as this could interfere with it.

The stringers and cross members are from T section aluminium - a length of which has been cluttering up my house for about 25 years and I'm glad to have finally found a use for. The stringers are inverted and epoxied to the hull - the boat was placed on a flat surface and the frame heavily weighted while the glue set. Subsequently the L-brackets at the end of the aft crosspiece were added and also epoxied to the hull. (A piece of wood was used to hold the hull sides at the correct width while this was done.)