Window Replacement Completed

On Monday installed the final two windows and just in time because we got bouts of light rain over the next 24 hours.

New Starboard Windows

Bruce and I lowered the repaired port water tank into position and I then connected the three water lines.  On Tuesday morning I filled up the tank until the water was overflowing from the filler hose then checked the tank and its hose connections very carefully and found no leaks.

This opened the way for Zelko to pay a visit to fit the hold-down restraints that he had designed for  both tanks and adjacent batteries. He came in on Wednesday and did the work and the result was two tanks and batteries firmly secure and guaranteed to remain in place through a knockdown, rollover, pitch pole, or whatever agitation that the sea can throw at the hull. He then did some minor jobs such as cutting a wooden wedge for the base of the engine muffler then securing the muffler with three thru bolts.

View through the new window

Ryan from Sealed Marine Windows at Bibra Lake had produced an aluminum spacer to fit between the mast compression pose and the keel.  Zelko used his jig saw to trim it for a better fit but then we realized that the keel area was lumpy and would have to be neatened up.  Bruce purchased a special drill attachment to do the job but then we saw that the new compression plate did not sit firmly enough on the floor supports.  Bruce removed the fiberglass along the top of one support and discovered that the timber was saturated with water and mold was growing.  This amazed me because the boat had been high and dry for months.  Unfortunately the water was trapped with no ventilation.

Aluminum spacer and perimeter of mast support plate

We had no option but to fix the problem and between Bruce and I we spent hours using a heat gun to dry out the wood so that the space between the wood and the fiberglass could be filled with epoxy glue before the end of the day.

Steve put in several  hours with his assistant and finished the reassembly of the mast, with only a few minor things to be done later.  Greg the marine electrician will visit in the coming week to connect the radar, lights, and instruments.

Bruce did some great work in

Gap filled with Epiglue, support perimeter ready for fiberglassing

organizing the painting of the deck.  After some investigation he set himself up with the proper angle grinder disc for taking off the tops of the roughness molded into the fiberglass and he employed Lucas, a hard working university student to go over the entire deck with a wire brush.  Bruce also inquired on whether there was available a coating that could act as a barrier between the old enamel paint and the planned new 2-part paint and sure enough a new product just came on the market: Norglass brand "No Rust Surface Primer".

  Mike the painter paid a short visit and he and Bruce will do the painting on Thursday after Bruce has complete the deck preparation and laid down a coat of primer..  Mike will roll on the paint, Jotun brand "Hardtop Ultra Base 2" with "Hardtop AS/HB Comp B" hardener, and Bruce will use a sifter to sprinkle the white anti skid paint additive, International brand "Intergrip" that looks like very fine sand but is, I am told, a milled plastic.  On Friday when first coat has dried they will blow off the excess anti skid material then lay down a second coat of paint. The paint will be left to cure over the weekend.

I have been told that the paint has the very useful property of being able to be re coated in the future with no need for sanding.

I made the decision to change the deck color from the light blue that I have always disliked to something a bit more earthy.  The color is "Biscuit", number X42 on the AS2700 color chart.  I am hoping that the color will interact well with the considerable amount  of teak work  on the deck as well as the toe rails that have been powder coated a shade lighter than the "Biscuit".  It appears that the color will also work well with the blue spray dodger and sail cover.  Let's hope that it works out.