5.11.2011

A disorienting view on deck



After cutting a gaping hole in the forward bridge deck, I routed out the structural foam from the edges of both the opening and what will become the actual hatch.  With an extra lightweight mixture of epoxy and micro balloons, I filled the edges using the zip-lock bag trick and again, used a strip of thick, flexible roofing membrane to keep the mixture in place.  Wood strips do tend to make a visually interesting way of securing the edges of the deck opening. 

5.09.2011

Creating the Anchor well compartment




Here's a photo taken from inside the forward starboard cabin. The larger opening will become the anchor well hatch


After cutting the anchor well hatch, I then installed the internal anchor well bulkhead. Rather than laying up all the seams at this point, I have found it easier to position the bulkhead where it needs to be, smooth out the fillet with strips of peel ply and just give the bulkhead a while to set itself in place.  Tomorrow, all I'll need to do is pull off the strips and tape all the seams with glass and epoxy.




I chose to create a single hatch opening for the anchor well on the starboard fore deck because the port side cabin has been built up as the kids room. A benefit from this is that the hatch can be hinged to lie flat on the fore deck when open. In this case, this offset compartment can be used for sail storage as well and anchor windlass operation.