some progress

[kydocfrog]

Well, a little bit of break in the weather and a little bit of progress. Mast conversion from hinge to full tabernacle underway and trailer getting done. Got the eyebolt hole drilled in the bow, but still have to stuff it with epoxy. I have an interesting problem developing with the bowsprit, which is suffering a major delamination. I'm going to have to scape the split out, fill it with epoxy or bondo or something and refinish. Bummer. I;m going to try to get that done and the mast rigged this weekend. Color is a bit off; the topsides are actually a pale buff

Cheers

DocA

[Pipefitter]

The gremlins always come out at that part of it. Mine are waiting until I get on the water

Nice boat,and when you get it all fixed you will be wanting something else to do on it.Building withdrawals.

[Dave R1]

Looking good. Thanks for posting the update.

Is it your bowsprit that is delaminating or the stem? I'm guessing the latter. I had a little bit of delamination on the stem of my keel. It didn't appear until last year--third summer after launch.

To fix it, I put a guide on the base of my trim router and cut a groove centered on the seam. Then I filled that with thickened epoxy. It seemed to work. We'll see how it wintered.

Unless it is a large opening, I wouldn't try to pull it back together with clamps. Just fill the opening. If you do try pulling it together, the wood will be trying to fight it and might break the joint again.

[kydocfrog]

It is the bowsprit, which the original builder laminated up out of oak and then cut to ocatagonal. It weight a ton. I'm going to use a triangular scraper to open it up and clean the edges and then stuff it with epoxy or bondo or something.

DavidA

[adla]

my keel in the rear by the rudder box delaminated a little bit - I used thickened epoxy to fix it because it sees so much water - no problems this last trip out.

progress looks good!

a.

[PAR]

Bondo has no structural strength and doesn't stick any where near as well as epoxy. Bondo also absorbs moisture. Epoxy doesn't stick to oak as well as other things, but will easily out perform bondo. Wipe the repair area with acetone a few minutes before applying epoxy. It will remove the acids in the oak (tannins) that can screw up epoxy bonds on this wood.

Keep up the good work, it's oozing all over the place in the pictures.

[Dave R1]

Good luck with the repair. At first I was going to suggest a new bowsprit but I think you could use the weight forward anyway. As PAR said, an acetone wipedown before expoxy will help.

[kydocfrog]

Started working on the bowsprit today. Poured some acetone in the gap, let it evaporate for a while. The started packing epoxy in. Gap ranges the entire length of the bowsrprit, from maybe 1/16" plus to playing card size gap. I've got a picture of the damage, but I can't get it posted. This size limit is driving me crazy.

Drilled the mast base and tabernacle cheeks today for the pivot and lock pins. It seems to work; at least when it is laying on the gound. I'm going to try to raise the mast and get the shrouds set to length this weekend.

I have really taken some finish hits this winter. I'm not pleased right now with some parts. Oil primer and rustoleum, but I do have some areas that are peeling. Oh well. Part of the logic was that the boat doesn't have to last longer than I will. Bring out the paint can.

Doc (David)A.