Epoxy coating

Continued with the hull coating. Late last night (or actually early this morning) I trimmed the edges of the glass.

Edges trimmed

Washed of the amine bush and gave the bottom and garboard a light sanding, before the next epoxy coat.

Unfortunately I found some bubbles where the glass goes over the center board case edge. I cut them out, sanded and laid down a strip of glass along all the case edges.

One of the bubbles, before the repair

Then it was time for the second coat (first for the side planks), and when this had set the third coat.

After the second coat, through the garage door

Tim today: 4h

Glassing the bottom

The day started of with sanding again, after about 1.5h the hull was as smooth as a babys bottom.... Then I decided to make a new outer stem, the one I have just does not fit properly so I made a cardboard template from the actual stem.

Working on the template

Old stem and new template

The lamination was done the same way as the other day so no pictures of that. The next job was to cut the glass fibre mat into the correct size.

Mat cut oversized and ready for epoxy

Then I epoxied the glass fibre to the bottom.

Glass mat in place, in a few hours I will trim the edge

Time today: 5h

Power sanding

Firstly I had to check on my stem laminate. To my surprise there was almost no springback (because of many layers????)

After releasing the clamps

Testing the fit on the hull, far from perfect but I think I can get it in place with some planing and a few screws

Then it was time for sanding again, today I used my random orbital sander. Noisy and a lot of vibration (my hands have not stopped shaking yet). My neighbors must be really patient, no complaints after a few hours of sanding on a Friday night (maybe they are not at home?).

I also added some fairing compound to a few low spots. Hand sanding tomorrow and hopefully glassing the bottom.

Time today: 2.5h

Stem and SANDING

Today I had no excuses, I just had to sand, but first I could spend some time with the stem. I fitted some steel brackets to make sure it all would stay in place.

Dry fitting 15 layers of veneer which will make a 30 mm stem

Everything laid out and ready for glueing

I cut the bristles of a paint brush to make it stiff enough to brush thickened epoxy

Glued and clamped up

Finally I had nothing left to do but spend an hour sanding the hull, more sanding will be needed for tomorrow as I really would like to get the glass on the bottom this weekend.

Time today: 2h

Outer stem

After a 19 hour ferry trip I did not feel like sanding so I got onto the outer stem instead.

First however I tested the fit of the skeg template, not a perfect match so I will have to do some adjustments

I had drawn the stem profile on a piece of scrap ply before glueing it onto the boat.

Stem shape

So all I had to do was to fit some blocks along this line to clamp the veneers to as I glue it up.

Drilling screw holes

So I started by drilling pilot holes into a piece of wood and then I cut it between the wholes to make a number of blocks with the hole in the centre. I put plastic on the plywood base and packing tape on the blocks.

All prepared for screwing the blocks in place

Testing with one veneer

I am a little uncertain whether the blocks will take the strain from 10-12 veneers so I will have to do a dry run tomorrow before adding the glue.

Time today: 1h

On my way back

Artists impression

My oldest daughter drew my boat