28 BERTRAM OUTBOARD CONVERSION

[tech_support]

Bubbles and epoxy at 1/8" thickness should not be a problem you think?

1/8" is not too thick.

I would probably skim it with woodflour/silica first to fill the weave and known lows. You dont really have to sand the skim coat other than to rough it up. Save the more expensive faring mix for the real fairing.

[DAYTRIP]

Well, no pics but I glassed/tabbed the underside of the gunnels to the belly band and ribs this weekend. What a PAIN! used more than 100 12" pieces. This got me from the bow to the back of the old cabin. About 16' worth of gunnel on each side. The gunnels are really strong. Just have to finish off the cockpit area then they are done structurally.

[tech_support]

Well, no pics but I glassed/tabbed the underside of the gunnels to the belly band and ribs this weekend. What a PAIN! used more than 100 12" pieces. This got me from the bow to the back of the old cabin. About 16' worth of gunnel on each side. The gunnels are really strong. Just have to finish off the cockpit area then they are done structurally.

that is a real pain, but its worth doing - its now one piece. Did you use 1708 strips?

[DAYTRIP]

Yes all 1708 which made it a lot easier. I wet out about 20 pieces at a time then contorted myself under there and put them in. I need to real be sure to seal those exposed end of the plywood.

[Mbiggerstaff]

How is the progress going?

[DAYTRIP]

Banged the molds out of the console Friday. As you can gather I just took the sawsall to each mold then cut the battens and pulled them away. Makes quite a trash pile! The 4d nails I used, and even some drywall screws, to secure the foam to the battens pull right through. Last shot shows glass in corners and on sides. Corners are not fun due to horizontal upside- down layup. Very stiff in those areas now. Next is top of inside. I will stand it on its end for that mission.

[Mbiggerstaff]

That is amazing. Did you consider turning it upside down to do the inside glass work?

[DAYTRIP]

I started the mold for my hatch gutters. Built it to the largest size and will just cut the large ones down to make the smaller ones. Used MDF to build it. If you look close you will see a routed grove that will accept a 1/2" diameter dowl. That will form a grove that accepts a 1/2" gasket. I will seal coat the MDF, fillet the corners and prime it. I need to get about 6-8 parts off it.




Also stood the console up on a piece of malamine. I will use that as a mold to build the rear bulkead of the console onto which the steering and control pod will mount. Basically I will glass it right to the console during the miolding process.

[DAYTRIP]

Set the console up in the boat to get a feel for things.





There is 2' of space between the gunnel and console all the way around



My 6' tall son has plenty of head room!

[Mbiggerstaff]

That is sweet!