Mark Tuccillo
Member I
I would not have attempted this if not for the wealth of info on this site. Many thanks to all who have contributed. As can be seen in the attached photo's, my sole is in pretty bad shape. It has been covered by a rug for many years, but it really needs to go. I recruted my wifes cousin, master builder, and all around great guy, Bob, to handle the job ( a man's gotta know his limitations ) and last Saturday we removed the sole.
First we removed the molding, which is in pretty good shape, and then started removing each half of the main sole. It came up pretty easily and intact, with just the last layer of ply still glued to the floor. They will be used as templates for the new sole. It was 1/4" ply with 1/2" Mahonogy sections to fill in the grid. The bow section came up as splinters, but we had made a template from builders paper.
The plan is:
1: Remake the sole in 3 sections from 1/4" BS1088 Teak and Holly ply. Two 4X8 sheets will be here by Friday. The Mahogony sections will also remade with 1/2" marine ply.
2: Throughly clean all adhesive from the floor and clean the bilge. Grind down the screws that did not come out.
3: Fit the sole pieces and then epoxy both sides with a thin penetrating epoxy. Epoxy the replacement 1/2" grid sections and screw in with SS screws.
4: Screw in the sole with bronze square drive counter sunk hardware. Finish the sole with 4 coats of spar varnish. We are not planning to glue it back down.
5: Remake the bilge hatches from 1/2" ply and 1/4" teak and holly ply.
I will post comments and pictures as we progress. Any comments out there?? Anyone know where to get new hardware for the bilge hatches?
Mark Tuccillo
1983 E28+ # 553 "wing It"
First we removed the molding, which is in pretty good shape, and then started removing each half of the main sole. It came up pretty easily and intact, with just the last layer of ply still glued to the floor. They will be used as templates for the new sole. It was 1/4" ply with 1/2" Mahonogy sections to fill in the grid. The bow section came up as splinters, but we had made a template from builders paper.
The plan is:
1: Remake the sole in 3 sections from 1/4" BS1088 Teak and Holly ply. Two 4X8 sheets will be here by Friday. The Mahogony sections will also remade with 1/2" marine ply.
2: Throughly clean all adhesive from the floor and clean the bilge. Grind down the screws that did not come out.
3: Fit the sole pieces and then epoxy both sides with a thin penetrating epoxy. Epoxy the replacement 1/2" grid sections and screw in with SS screws.
4: Screw in the sole with bronze square drive counter sunk hardware. Finish the sole with 4 coats of spar varnish. We are not planning to glue it back down.
5: Remake the bilge hatches from 1/2" ply and 1/4" teak and holly ply.
I will post comments and pictures as we progress. Any comments out there?? Anyone know where to get new hardware for the bilge hatches?
Mark Tuccillo
1983 E28+ # 553 "wing It"