Trip 69 - Saturday - May 2nd

Time to plug up the Thru-Hull holes for the valves for the Head, Sink and Engine. The Head and Sink are being relocated, and the engine converted to a captive cooling system.

I used epoxy instead of polyester resin. It is stronger and easier to work with. After relieving a shallow depression in the affected parts, the next step is to rebuild the layers of fibreglas to the same thickness as the original.

 

Time to convert this empty vehicle into a Boat Repair Van.

 

Weather nice, marina bizzeee. Good to see others and cars and bizzeeeness about the place.

 

The first relieved hole. I placed wax paper and taped some cardboard behind it for support. I redid the grinding with a clean disc in order to assure myself no oil or goo was on the relieved layers.

 

Today's Tools Of Misery and Pain.

 

I made up a series of discs to build up the thickness within the hole. About 1/16" but seemed like a foot.

 

After "Wetting" with epoxy and the first layer beyond the teeny discs. The idea here, is to provide as much surface area to the initial bond as possible.

 

After more than a few layers.

 

The discs. Each a bit bigger than the previous one.

 

Reflecting the light - we can see if it is smooth and as thick as before. Close, we are.

 

All done ...

 

The Galley and Engine thru-hull holes.

 

All done with all of them.

 

The evidence.

 

For the hole I drilled in the wrong spot, I thought, why not glue the plug back in place? To reinforce the bond, I relieved the plug and hole in the hull with reverse dimples. The epoxy and glas will slide into these and make a terrific Insurance Policy of the plug Popping Out.

 

The hole, all dimpled.

 

I thought, why not set the plug in the hole and work in chopped fobreglas all around.

 

The result. Next time I will use bigger pieces of mesh. Next time I will use bigger pieces instead of the threads etc.

 

 

Duckies !!!!!

 

Marcia and my slip.

Patiently waiting.

 

Later ...