110 Cookson Lane | Whitefield, ME 04353 | 207-232-7600 | tim@lackeysailing.com
With the new engine foundations now well secured to the boat, I removed the various bracing and support system, happy to have it out of the way.
I set up the centerline string once more, and tested the engine template on the new foundations to check the fit one final time before proceeding. Minor adjustments notwithstanding, things were just where I wanted them to be.
Afterwards, I created paper patterns to represent the shape of the tabbing needed for each side of the two foundations, which I'd use later to cut the fiberglass cloth to shape.
Next, I removed the temporary plywood pieces from the tops of the foundations, and, after once more cleaning and preparing all surfaces and surrounding areas with a final solvent wash and then a coat of unthickened epoxy, I installed the final 1/2" thick G-10 fiberglass caps on the foundations in a bed of thickened epoxy adhesive, using two screws in each section to hold the pieces securely while the epoxy cured.
I continued by installing epoxy fillets around the edges of the foundations where they met the hull, not only to fill the remaining space (as applicable) beneath the foundations, but also to provide additional strength to the joint and provide a clean radius over which to install the fiberglass tabbing later. I left the new fillets and epoxy coatings to partially cure for an hour or so before continuing.
Using my patterns, I cut three layers of knitted biaxial fabric to secure the foundations to the hull on both sides. The fiberglass would extend to just below the tops of the foundations, and well down and out onto the hull on each side (6"). With all the material cut, I wetted out one section (comprising three layers) of tabbing at a time and installed them in the boat.
Later, I'd add more fiberglass to encapsulate the ends of the wooden foundations, and to wrap over the top of the foundations to tie everything together and secure the G-10 in place. I'd hoped to add some of this material now, but I decided I'd get a better result if I waited till the existing tabbing had cured overnight.
I'd hoped to begin the deadlights' installation, but since I'd been delayed in the morning and got a later start than I'd planned, I didn't have time to get to the deadlights. To round out the day, however, I made a few final preparations for the work ahead, including laying out some protective paper over the decks and preparing the materials I'd need.
Total Time Billed on This Job Today: 4.75 hours
