TJ's V10

[terrulian]

Outside goop currently kicking, and I will do as you suggest when the duct tape is removed.

[terrulian]

OK, I've decided that you folks have are tough enough to stomach these photos of the bow. First one is the frankenbolt from the inside:

Then, the bow looking aft (oops--some kind of hole there. Is that bad?):


And finally, the bow from port:


I slapped a little glass on so the boat doesn't explode when I release the bolt and ties. I think I may put in the fillet and tape on the inside as well, after I remove the ties but before I take out the bolt.
Now you see what I mean by hard to stomach. Nevertheless, I'm pretty satisfied with the curve between the bottom and stem at the knuckle. It came out pretty fair. Also, I'm convinced I got about as much deadrise here as I could, meaning we will have a fine entry. I know it's ugly, but I think the ultimate shape is satisfactory and the rest is makeup and powder.

[Corvidae]

Did you sand off the broken epoxy stitches in that pic of frankenbolt? Or is that prior to the split? I ask because I thought that's where the initial epoxy goes before removing the ties.

[terrulian]

The "broken epoxy stitches" you are referring to are not really broken. They are the un-seamed edges of the glass tape provided by the Bateau folks, who have gone away from supplying the seamed type because, I assume, the seam creates more work in the fairing process. I have applied the glass in advance of doing the actual tape-up of the seams, which will follow once all the ties have been removed, in the interest of ensuring that no explosions result. Cranking down on that bolt took quite a bit of torque, all of which is hiding in the wood waiting to pounce.

The picture you see doesn't show anything that is the result of any tearing or breakage; everything is still being held together with the bolt and zip ties. As the picture is a fairly extreme close-up, the holes appear much worse than they are and will be attended to once the bolt and ties are removed. All the glass and epoxy you see was applied to a fresh plywood surface.

I'm just guessing that you assumed that this mess was the result of my botched-up job that broke apart, but, unfortunately, it is just a view of my normal level of craftsmanship. Unless it does actually break apart with the removal of the bolt, I have faith it will all work out in the end and be as pretty as Jessica Alba.

[Corvidae]

I just realized I was looking Doc_dyers picture thinking it was yours. And then you posted your pic from the inside and it was magically clean wood. And now I realize we're waiting to see what happens when frankenbolt gets removed, and hoping we don't get a new version of Docs pic. It looks like you've got that sorted pretty well though.

[Knottybuoyz]

It happens on the bigger boats too!



Went off like a bomb when I clipped one too many wire ties! Had to go change my shorts!

[terrulian]

Yikes!
Yep, I'll be holding my breath when the bolt comes out. But glass is amazingly strong and I've decided to definitely put a band-aid of cloth on the inside, too, before I release the bolt...hoping that works.

[Cracker Larry]

Put some spot welds of glue on the inside between the stitches. Add a piece of tape if you're scared, but epoxy glue is as strong as a bolt if you have a little surface area to glue to.

[terrulian]

Yep, will do.

[terrulian]

Here's the band-aid I put in, in an excess of caution:


I let it kick for a day and then pulled out the bolt, with very little trepidation. Nothing even creaked, so we're solid.
Actually, belay that. Let's wait for a day before we pop the cork.