Team Northern Atlantic 2011

I had so much to do today.  I bought a half pallet of stone to build a stone wall around a tree in my front yard, from a nearby nursery, Friday evening; I unloaded the stone Friday as well, when I got home.  My back was sore this morning, but I still made it to rowing practice Saturday morning at 0530.  We practiced starts and transitions in our 4+ this morning.  When I got home, I had to pull out all the brick previously ‘placed’ around my front yard tree (by the previous owner), and replace it with the cool looking stone I bought.  Once that was done, I transplanted some hastas in the bed created by the new stone wall, and I planted some dwarf pampas grass at the head of my driveway.  Then, and only then, could i begin work on my boat!

Finally, with other family, ok, yard, matters taken care of, I continued the work of removing the motor well from my Dory.  It took maybe an hour to use the Japanese Saw to cut the motor well free.  I have grown to rather appreciate my new Japanese Saw.  What a handy tool!  My wrists kind of hurt now, however, from sawing so much today, but it’s still a great tool to have.  I was watching a woodworking show on PBS this morning for a bit, and a guy was using a Japanese Saw to help him build a guitar.  Essential woodworking tool, that Japanese Saw, I’d say.  Anyway, with my eldest daughter’s help, I was able to finally cut the motor well free.

Next, I made sure the original plywood template I cut to fit the motor well hole, would fit.  I re-traced the new hole opening on my template, which was still a little big, and cut it to size (with my Japanese Saw).  I then traced the template again on my big sheet of plywood and cut out a copy.  Then, the fun began!

I cut out a piece of fiberglass cloth to fit over the plywood template face.  I mixed 7 squirts of resin and hardner in a plastic cookie container (I ate the remainder of the cookies contained therein for lunch today), mixed some white powder thickener, and spread some of the epoxy resin on the face of one of the template boards.  Next, I spread the fiberglass cloth on top of the resin-coated template face and spread more epoxy resin using a plastic spreader, making sure to keep the cloth smooth, clear, and sufficiently epoxy resin coated.  Then, I coated one face of the other template cut-out, and placed it on top of the first one.  I put two cans of paint on top of the wood-fiberglass sandwhich to help keep some pressure on it while the epoxy resin cures.  I’ll check on it in the morning to see if it sticks together or not .  This will serve as my plug for the hole left by the removal of the motor well.

Next steps are to fix some cleats to the inside of the boat over the motor well hole so I can afix my template over/inside the motor well hole.  I’ll cover the cleats with wax paper or plastic, place the template over and inside the hole where it will be held by the cleats, and fill the cracks between the template and the hull with thickened epoxy resin.  I’ll sand, once cured, then cover the seams with fiberglass tape, cover with epoxy, sand and then prime.  I’ll let you know how that goes.

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