February 1, 2023

Further 36

Wednesday

I got the day started with some sanding on the coachroof.  After the second round of fairing compound, most areas were where they needed to be, but a few tool marks and minor voids remained.

Afterwards, I spot-applied more fairing compound where needed.

I continued work in a similar vein with the patched through hulls in the counter.

Next, I turned to the ongoing repairs in the cockpit, which were ready for core and top laminate.  Because of the small size of the repairs, and the flat nature of the new inner skins I’d installed, made from prefab panels, I saw no reason not to install the core, then the top laminate all in one operation.  So in turn, I wet out the core, prepared the openings, installed the core in epoxy adhesive, then, because the core was a bit below the surrounding edges, installed three layers of 1708 over the core (in the propane locker opening and pedestal opening) before installing the final two overlapping layers to complete these repairs.  For the engine panel, located in the uncored vertical side of the cockpit,  I installed two layers within the opening to bring it flush, then two additional layers over the top to tie it in.

Later, I sanded the sea hood once more, bringing it mainly to its final state of readiness, though there were a few tool marks that would require spot filling shortly.  First, however, I lightly sanded the underside, mainly to prepare the old paint for new coating, but also to prepare the slots left behind from removing the old structural ribs so I could fill them flush with an epoxy mixture.  ONce that was done, I could flip the part back over and apply fairing compound where needed on the top surface.

At the transom, earlier I’d ground out some cracking where the hull and deck moldings met, and now I installed some fairing compound to fill these areas.

I used up the remains of that batch of fairing compound to fine-tune a couple areas on the starboard sidedeck, and fill some of the smaller repairs and fastener holes that I could easily reach in the cockpit.

Total time billed on this job today: 6.5 hours

0600 Weather Observation: 8°, clear, dew point -3°. Forecast for the day: Sunny, 21°