Progress report July 10, 2011
I can't believe this has gone on for 3 months.
Today the sliding hatch gets it's new acrylic. The old acrylic was smoked (0.175" thick) almost opaque and the new is clear 1/4" (0.23" actually). Using Sikaflex 295UV and the various primers (209D and 206G+P) and cleaners (226) as recommended by Sika.
The seahood is back at the boat, but not installed. I put 7 layers of fiberglass and epoxy on the underside to cover where the wood boxes used to be, leaving only toe or finger holds on top. I drilled drain holes and epoxied the edges yesterday. Will paint the bottoms next.
The stuck seahood mounting screw has been removed and I drilled through into the cabin where I will add a small stainless backing plate. The threaded aluminum plate embedded in the layup is a continuous bar. I filled the gaping hole with epoxy yesterday and will re-drill the final hole today. Fingers crossed on the leak possibility.
I filled the 12 original mounting holes (6 per side) from the old channel, and two holes on the seahood that I won't use for the new traveler, with epoxy. Will drill new holes for the 3/8" end screw and two more 5/16" screws near the track ends. The risers are 1.125" thick with a plywood center - lots of material there. Need to check alignment of the seahood holes today, before drilling them out to 5/16" (they are 1/4" now). I will pick-up 8 of them.
Still need to cut the track to length and drill the end holes after checking the fit with the seahood in place.
I'll post some pictures later, of some of the progress. The end is in sight.
P.S. I think the seahood drain holes were added later. I found evidence that they were drilled after the seahood was mounted. I also see some signs that the water got pretty high inside there at one time. That could cause leaks into the cabin, I would think.
I can't believe this has gone on for 3 months.
Today the sliding hatch gets it's new acrylic. The old acrylic was smoked (0.175" thick) almost opaque and the new is clear 1/4" (0.23" actually). Using Sikaflex 295UV and the various primers (209D and 206G+P) and cleaners (226) as recommended by Sika.
The seahood is back at the boat, but not installed. I put 7 layers of fiberglass and epoxy on the underside to cover where the wood boxes used to be, leaving only toe or finger holds on top. I drilled drain holes and epoxied the edges yesterday. Will paint the bottoms next.
The stuck seahood mounting screw has been removed and I drilled through into the cabin where I will add a small stainless backing plate. The threaded aluminum plate embedded in the layup is a continuous bar. I filled the gaping hole with epoxy yesterday and will re-drill the final hole today. Fingers crossed on the leak possibility.
I filled the 12 original mounting holes (6 per side) from the old channel, and two holes on the seahood that I won't use for the new traveler, with epoxy. Will drill new holes for the 3/8" end screw and two more 5/16" screws near the track ends. The risers are 1.125" thick with a plywood center - lots of material there. Need to check alignment of the seahood holes today, before drilling them out to 5/16" (they are 1/4" now). I will pick-up 8 of them.
Still need to cut the track to length and drill the end holes after checking the fit with the seahood in place.
I'll post some pictures later, of some of the progress. The end is in sight.
P.S. I think the seahood drain holes were added later. I found evidence that they were drilled after the seahood was mounted. I also see some signs that the water got pretty high inside there at one time. That could cause leaks into the cabin, I would think.
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