110 Cookson Lane | Whitefield, ME 04353 | 207-232-7600 | tim@lackeysailing.com
Blue Teal | Friday, June 14, 2013
Some unrelated business required my absence for most of the morning, so during the afternoon I concentrated on the new engine foundations, which I wanted to get installed as soon as possible. To begin, I used the measureents I'd determined earlier to mark the shape of the foundations on the two blanks. These measurements gave me the basic shape of the foundations.
Using a saw for the rough cut, followed by a power planer to bring the cuts to the layout lines, I shaped the two blanks. The blanks were fairly different in size because of variations in hull geometry, assymetry, and other differences in the space itself.
After various trial fits, with additional fine-tuning of the shapes (particularly the aft ends, which required a concave shape),I achieved the fit and position required to match the engine mounts themselves. For this process, I realigned the engine template with the shaft centerline string, then temporarily secured it with screws to the cleats and cross pieces I'd used during the first stages of layout and measurement. To allow me to later use the cleats and braces to secure the foundations during installation, I installed a new cleat which, which, when spanned with 12mm plywood, represented the top surface of the foundation blanks, allowing for the final addition later of 1/2" G-10 on the top surface. I dry fit all the pieces and braces I'd use during final installation to double-check the fit and measurements.
After cleaning the hull and wooden foundations, I applied unthickened epoxy to the foundation bonding surfaces, and allowed it to partially cure before tacking the foundations in place, in their proper positions, with thickened epoxy adhesive, securing them well with the cross members, braces, and screws as needed to hold them in position while the epoxy cured.
Total Time on This Job Today: 4.25 hours
