Life and side missions exposed cracks in my resolve to build on, but after a few hours on a completed BBC project compliments of VT Jeff, my resolve is renewed!
This forward hatch was right in the way of progress. I didn't feel like I keep keep glassing toward the transom leaving this opening untouched. Perhaps a case of paralyzation by analyzation, but nevertheless, early attempts at hatch gutter molding failed, leaving me stranded and incomplete. See below...
A vacation, home projects, and a busy few months at work later, armed with fresh knowledge from YouTube University, I reworked the gutter design, grabbed a gallon of professional grade laminating polyester resin, molded the hatch itself and and took a second stab at an MDF mold.
The trick this time was to neat coat the MDF so it could be sanded smooth rather than just sanded fuzzy. Sanded it smooth to 120. Sprayed with SilverTip YP, then sanded with 220. Coated with PVA, brushed with gel coat, and laminated with 3-4 layers of 1.5 oz CSM.
Dreamt about it all night, and returned to the shop this morning to pop her loose.
Cleaned up the hole and dropped her in place...
I think the things that made a difference this time were a properly prepped mold and quality ploy resin not over catalyzed, and clean CSM from BBC!
After gluing this in place, I will be free to glass around it. Finish the forward bulkhead, glass down the front of the step and sole nearly to the transom. That should keep me busy for a few weeks. Feels good to have a path in front of me again!