10.30.2011

Forward deck hatches

The F-44SC includes an option for forward deck hatches and in anticipation of equatorial stuffiness, I elected to include them.

To account for the openings, a total of 17 layers of unidirectional glass is specified to strengthen the forward decks.


Had I anticipated the need for these reinforcements, I would have applied them before the sealing primer so to insure an absolute bond, I sanded the deck back down to the glass with 36 grit.


After applying 9 layers of unidirectional glass along the edges of the hatch opening, I topped it all off with a continuous piece of peel ply which will reduce the need for sanding.  The other 8 layers of unidirectional glass will be applied to the inside edges, the opening will be cut, the foam will be hogged out and replaced with thickened epoxy then the edges will be wrapped with double bias glass tape.


Since it's a cat, the same holds true for the hulls mirror image.



2 comments:

Tom said...

Pity the design does not allow just burying the uni in the decored edge with a u of off/axis, saves a "fair" bit of work.

Unknown said...

Had I made the decision to go with the forward hatches earlier, that would be the way to do it,....A power planer does a really nice job cutting a recessed areas from the foam prior to laying two or more layers of glass overlap to nest down in. You are right. That's the way to do it.