First I has to check out the existing hole through the deck. WBW made a good job at sealing the core where the chain plate passed through the deck.... almost. When the deck was laid up they removed the balsa in the areas where the holes were going to be and filled it in with polyester (or similar) - that's the white bit on the photo below. Unfortunate the location was a bit off and just touched the balsa on the right of the photo, resulting on a tiny amount of balsa damage. No major problem to cut back the skin and refill with epoxy.
Next the plan. I have always believed that when you steal ideas you should steal from the best. Don Casey (boating guru, buy all his books especially his new one, This Old boat (new ed.)) recommends raising the area around the hole to prevent water seeping below. Another smart person "Gary at gizmology.com" came up with a nice way of epoxying the hole. Surprisingly he cut the tube flush with the deck. I just combined both ideas and produced the following.
Make tube by rolling glass tape around a wooden batten covered in wax paper. Cut tube to size. Stick in hole in deck and pour thickened epoxy around.
Re-attach shroud, tension in order to find final resting place of the chain plate, squirt in Sikaflex 291 and paint the area to protect the epoxy. QED.
2 comments:
nice. I like the idea.
Squirt some sealant in there?
Yep, Sikaflex 291 looks like it will win the prize, but I'm open to suggestions.
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