Hull Patching

Once the basic rigging was set up I could use the mast to pull her over. Always a nervous time!

A couple of chocks where positioned between the keel and the ground to take the strain off the rigging. (The rigging was relaxed once I was happy with the chocks.)

The whole of the rotten section was cut out until we got to good wood.

The stringers will have to be strengthened as one has lost some wood. This can be done on the inside when preparing to epoxy and patch. Next step on the outside will be to cut the patch from marine ply and sand down the stringers to remove all traces of the old plywood - so that the patch will fit.

First step is to strengthen the stringers that have been weakened by rot.

Wood for the stingers were cut to size and trimmed. These were epoxied to the two inner stringers between frames 4 & 5 that showed some rot.

(I had thought about totally replacing the stringers, but they appear very strong now.)

Some rot can be seen on frame 4.

The rot on frame 4 has been cut away to good wood, epoxied to fill the void and a 6mm plate epoxied and screwed on. This plate will support the new wood on the stringers and give added strength to frame 4.

I had planned to add a plate on the forward side of frame 4, but the rot wasn't that bad, so I'll leave it at this time, but I have the wood cut for it, so may still do it.

Around the edge of where the plywood patch will go, plywood overlaps have been epoxied and screwed to the existing plywood. Shown here are those at frame 4 (the bow end of the patch area).

The screw holding the overlap has been removed.

..and the screw hole drilled out and a plug epoxied in. These will be tidied up later. They all seem to be in a good alignment to ensure a good even fit for the patch.

A new edge has been epoxied and screwed to the keel area to provide a better edge for the epoxy holding the plywood patch.

The strengthened stringer needs to be tidied up before the patch is applied.

Now I need a few rain free days to put the hull on its side to cut and apply the patch.

Back over on to her side. (Hopefully for the last time!)

I'm working well away from anything else - including electricity (hence the genny).

The area around the patch has been sanded back to bare wood - ready for the patch to be applied.

The patch fits!

Now to epoxy it in - screwing it down (while the epoxy sets), then removing the 36 screws, filling the 36 screw holes, taping and epoxying over the join, fairing the patch in with more epoxy, and finally sanding again.

Patch is epoxied, taped and faired (almost - just a little more sanding to do).

The port hull, from the keel to the chine has been sanded ready for paint. The topsides (from chine to deck) can be painted while she is on the trailer.

Port hull painted (keel to chine). Looking OK.

Hmmm. The paint is a bit lighter than it looked on the colour guide!

The starboard hull (keel to chine) is painted. How she can go back on to the trailer (thankfully).