So last week I had a go at tackling that other ‘orrid ‘ole on the side of the hull, it looks as though this was a vent hole, some 3 inches in diameter, for an engine bay vent pump. Normally I would be loath to get rid of such a thing. However as it was only some 5 inches above the waterline I guess it was blanked off to keep in line with the BSC (10” min I believe).
I say blanked off, if a bit of old 6”x 4” x quarter ply, bathroom, sealant & a small bolt in each corner is “blanking off”. As it was the bolts came out very easily but more worrying was the fact that once a couple of the bolts were taken out some water also dribbled out! As it turned out these two small bolts went through a hull stiffening rib and it looked like water was passing past the bolt and getting into the rib, fortunately the bolts are near the base of the rib so a small hole drilled at the rib base allowed the water to escape – nearly a cup full all the same.
The remedial action to repair this ‘orrid ‘ole was to follow the same principle as the repair to the ‘orrid deck ‘ole of earlier notes; so after the bolt & water removal I placed two discs of balsa wood in the hole to be flush with the existing inside line of the hull fibre glass. A single layer of glass mat was laid over the balsa and inner hull glass. Once cured, I went outside and removed the blanking plate and scraped out the balsa back to the new glass layer.
For those wondering the forces will be from the outside, this inner layer is only an internal finish & stop the outer layers sagging into the inside.
With the balsa out of the way I set about the outside with the angle grinder! This was to step back & feather the edge of the hole ready for the new layers of fibreglass. Again, as before I started from the middle with a couple of discs of ‘glass’ in the hole gradually cutting larger areas of ‘glass’ applying resin to each layer eventually covering the ground back area checking as I went to ensure the new ‘glass’ line did not protrude beyond the existing hull line but not leave a too big a gap either I consider 2mm quite enough for filler. In the end I think I applied about 15 layers of glass before finally applying the marine filler skim.
All in all I think it went quite well all ready for final sanding which will be done as I make my way around the hull. Like the topsides I have begun with the sanding bank to gel coat a very strange colour it is too – battleship grey! What with a cream cabin it must have been totally unique when it was new; I think I will go with a light blue paint eventually.
In the mean time I have since found out that the hood front rail is not original and the hood loop in the centre is also too high, this explains the agro I have been having with the hood fitting. If all goes well I should be able to get a new front rail in a week or two, the hood loop I can cut down to suit once the new rail is fitted, then fingers crossed a perfectly fitting hood!
I’m afraid this is a little blunt and maybe missing some finer points. I have no real excuse although I feel working in London is a great one. My new employers have seconded me to their London office until December. The last time I went there was in 1969/70 and I vowed never again – hated it then and still do! At least this time it is me who is getting paid!!
