Project Log: Sunday, January 16, 2011
I nearly succumbed to the temptation to re-use the
existing plywood cabin sole section in the passageway
leading to the forward cabin, the final section of cabin
sole required at this time. The original piece,
including its teak veneer, was the same height as my new
main cabin sole, and was a good fit in its designated
area.
In the end, though, I decided to replace it with new
18mm marine Meranti; I had adequate supply on hand, and
I knew I'd feel better. Using the old piece as a
template, I cut the new section to size; afterwards, I
penciled in a hatch, cut out the opening, and installed
support cleats beneath. |
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I had one step remaining as I prepared things for the
new cabin sole, and that was to paint out the bilge
areas beneath. Painted bilges look nicer, and are
also easier to keep clean and dry. A good boat
begins with a clean, dry bilge.
After vacuuming and solvent-washing the area, I applied
a coat of gray Bilgekote to all areas, leaving the
bearing surfaces of the support beams unfinished so as
to better accept adhesive later, and similarly stopping
the paint on the hull at a point level with the tops of
the beams, leaving a bare area where I'd bond the edge
of the plywood to the hull. |
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To round out the pre-installation work on the cabin
sole, and also to round out the day, I cleaned up the
edges of the cabin sole hatches I'd cut out yesterday,
drilled finger holes for access (the final product might
feature something other than raw finger holes, but that
was for later), and coated the edges and bottom sides of
the hatches and the new passageway sole section with
epoxy resin. |
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Total Time Today: 3.25 hours
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