Before the final hull side pieces can go on I need to install the bow deck. This means I need to get the forward compartment filled with foam, bow eye ready for install, and then get as much work complete in the forward storage area as I can before the space gets really cramped.
Forward Bow Compartment
Bow Eye :
The manual shows drilling holes for the bow eye way on down the line. But since I want to install some extra support for the eye inside the boat I figured I’d go ahead and drill the holes now. The manual doesn’t mentioned additional support inside the hull but I’ve noticed several other builders doing this and I think it makes a lot of sense.
Other builders have cut and glued a piece of timber for interior support, but I tried something different. I simply built up the inside with thickened epoxy.
There is nothing specifically stated in the manual regarding where exactly to install the eye but you can tell from pictures and plans that it goes just above the waterline. I made a little jig to get spacing right and help keep my drill straight.
I then wrapped the bolts in plastic and dry fit the eye. Once in place I applied thickened epoxy all around the bolts to build up interior support for the eye. Using epoxy instead of timber assures my holes are watertight too (no drill, fill, drill).
That looks messy but I smoothed it out and then used a piece of scrap to create a perfectly flat surface to which the mounting plate will seat.
Foam Fill :
I then filled the compartment with cut sheets of foam, making a ‘tunnel’ as per the manual for installation of the eye bolt later on. My tunnel has a ‘ceiling’ just above the access port. Merely a horizontal piece that allows me to go ahead and fill in more space while the bow deck is still free. It seems to me like it might be tough filling in the space above the port later on.
Not shown in the picture above is a final layer of foam fit in as a single horizontal piece in order to make up the last inch of space.
The lower breasthook (and hull cleating) was installed after all foam was in. The shape of the breasthook did not perfectly match that of the hull though only by a very slight margin. But enough to where the forward pair of screws pulled in the hull pieces as to spoil a perfectly fair curve (well, semi-perfectly). I plan on fairing this out later on.
Storage Area
This area has already been finished with paint and varnish, up to an inch or so away from where the deck will sit. I went ahead and terminated the electrical wires running from the stern and meant to screw down the terminal bars but forgot. I’ll have to do that later, contorted into the compartment as best I can.
Then all that is left is to mask around where the upper fillets will go after the bow deck is installed. Then tape down plastic sheeting to protect the painted and varnished compartment.
Deck Install
This was pretty painless. My kit piece needed very slight trimming but basically fit out of the box. The underside had already been sealed with epoxy and the ceiling of the storage already painted and masked up.
I did not screw my deck down but instead put a lot of weight on the contact points. No reason for this, I just didn’t want to fool with filling drill holes.
Picture on the right shows I didn’t pay close enough attention to alignment when I glued the deck. Stuff like that bugs me even though it won’t matter a bit. I’ll live.
Finally, I dry fit the cabin wall. It took very slight trimming but not much.
Fillets :
I think it was the next day when I got around to making 1″ fillets in the ceiling of the storage area, where the bow deck joints are. It was tough squeezing into that tiny space and applying good fillets from a very full pastry bag. I suggest a ‘dry run’ before mixing the epoxy. Get down there and get a feel for what it takes to reach all the places you need to reach. It’s tricky.
Next
Works towards installing the final hull panels and rear cabin wall.