Getting ready to glass the deck interior

Over the past few weeks, we made progress on several fronts.  As you can see in the photo, we finished planking the deck, and then added the high-density inserts in high load areas, filled the screw holes and seams, and sanded it all smooth.  The deck interior is now ready for laminating.

All of the 12-oz bi-directional glass fabric is cut to length for the deck interior.  Since the lower hull interior was glassed earlier, we will overlap the deck laminate on to the lower deck at the gunwale.  Again, it will be extra challenging since it is difficult to reach inside now.  I may have to climb into the hull to ensure the glass is properly wetted, or even better Dawna will climb in.

I have also been preparing all of the flat panels we will need to build out the hull structure.  The photo shows the stack of foam core to be laminated on the vacuum table for the various bulkheads, floors, settee, bunks, etc.  Rather than punching a gazillion holes in the foam core to relieve trapped air during vacuum laminating, I'll laminate one side at a time.  This takes twice as much time on the table, but I find it preferable.  If I had it to do again, I would get the perforated foam sheets for the panels and save both the time and my patience.  Once laminated, we will start installing the panels in the hull and get this half done.

(Almost) done planking ...

 This weekend I spent some time forming and glueing the deck planks.  The only way to install these planks is from "inside" the hull.  Here is a lovely photo of your's truly taken by the photo-phenom, Catherine.  I spent many hours squatting on the gunwale, until I can now no longer feel my big toe!  Although not a large area to plank, it is time consuming and tiring because of the difficult access.  Luckily, Catherine offered me numerous opportunities to do other daddy-daughter activities, giving me occasional breaks.

 I had planned to complete the planking this weekend, but my back and toes had the final say on the matter.  I completed almost all of the planking, with just four planks remaining.  Here you can see the progress at the end of the day.  The board along the gunwale is what I walked on both to distribute my weight on the incomplete hull and to keep the surface relatively clean.

Here is another view from my perspective climbing into the hull.  Not exactly a La-Z-Boy recliner, but better than working underneath the hull!  Hopefully I'll finish the planking and prepare the surface for laminating after work during the week. Then I have a bunch of flat panels to laminate on the vacuum table.  More fun next weekend!