Just an Update

Five of the six tank covers are finished and installed.  I've been thinking about buying diesel fuel 5 gallons at a time so it doesn't cost so much all at once to fill the approx 60 gallon tank.  Also, this way I can mark a dip stick every time I pore in another 5 gallons.  No electronic tank levels ... electronics can malfuntion.

Today I finished glassing in the new cockpit drain system.  All that's left is some cosmetic work before I start painting the topsides.  During this process I replaced the hose that connect the rudder packing box to the fiberglass hull fitting.

Next major fiberglass project is to glass reinforce the hull/deck joint with 5 lays of mat and cloth.

Tank Cover Plates

I love projects.  If you know me at all you know I have several project going at one time.  I made the cover plate for the fwd sanitary tank months ago.  The last few days I've been working on the aft sanitary tank cover plate.  After installing it I started working on the diesel and water tanks cover plates.

 

Sorry it's out of focus ... digital camera's aren't perfect .... or maybe I moved it ... oops

Drain outlet is finally finished

Well after .... several days .... I've finished glassing in the cockpit outlet port.  Six layers alternating 2 oz mat and 10 oz roving.  WOW, what a job ... had to all be done squeezing underneath the cockpit and then getting out without getting into the wet resin.  I thought that part was a success until I went to brush my hair.  I wasn't wearing a cap.  Long story short my hair is very short now.  Enough said.
Well, it's Friday nite, cold and rainey outside, no money ..... so, I guess it's a movie nite.
Tomorrow I start glassing the drain tubes to the cockpit corners.

Ya, it's as small an area as it appears.

Drain Tube Installed

The first of two cockpit drain tubes finally has a new home.  I'm tickled at how it went.  A picture is worth a 1000 words.
So ....

 

 

(The hole in the lower right corner is the 1-1/2" overboard discharge thru-hull.)

 

Cockpit Drain Tube

For months I've been going over different ways to lay up the fiberglass tubes for the cockpit drains.  My original thought was to use the plastic tube from the center if a roll of window tint.  Cut the tube on an angle and tape the angles together at one end to form an elbow .... but how do I get the tube out once I'm finished?  I could pry out the elbow peices but the main tube would take hydraulic pressure.  The other day I came up with what I think is brilliant.  Why not use a thin, cardboard mailer tube from Staples?  So... I bought two of them.  Again, I cut 5 degree angles of the end of the tube and, using Elmer's glue, glued the angles together to form the elbow.  Next I applyed 3 coats of a release agent on the tube.
Yesterday I layed up the first 3 layers of fiberglass.  How come in actuality everything is more difficult then when you go over it in your mind?  Anyway, after a lot of mess I finally got 3 layers on.
Today, after my class I teach, I cleaned up the first layup and sanded it down for the second 3 layers of fiberglass.  Today when much smoother than yesterday.

Here's what I came up with.

 

 

Tomorrow, after it's cured, I'll clean up and trim the ends and fit in place for the port side cockpit drain.