Team

Busy 1/2 day yesterday working on the yak. What was done was scrape with used razor the glassed seams and epoxy area within the hull to remoive any bump, glass spike, and excess epoxy to acheive a smooth surface wihout excess weight, even an oz is too much. The last two nights have been cold and it rained which lowered temps and caused the epoxy to slow down curing (of course it got cold, we started epoxying). When we finished we had a smooth finish which will help obn the application of the CF tonight. Also, I had this middle of the night dream idea of using 1/2 inch dowels cut to the exact hull width at the shear line stich hole location to spam the width of the hull at the sections to keep the hull's shape during the glassing. The dowels are small profile and smooth which we allow the CF to be applied easily. That's the morning's goal followed by being anal about the deck panel fit. To ease the fit, we're going to install the deck forms, like we did for the hull, on blocks of wood for support, screwing them so that they stay up on their own. Also to do today is to match the grain for the new rear hatch. When we positoned the rear deck on the okoume, I had redesigned the rear hatch to have a flow the was a smaller version of the cockpit, remaining inside of the projected decklines (under which there will be a hatch gasket shelf support gasket and 6 s/s 10-24 studs). Postioning the rear deck meant putting the rear hatch over the scarf joint by design so that we can minimize the exposed joint. What part of the joint remains is 1 inch long on both side which will be covered by deckline hold-downs. I'm also going to laminate a second layer of okoume in the underside of the hatches to strengthen the hatch itself and serve to fit within the inner hatch gasket shelf. The strengthening idea is in case its stepped on accidentally, and minimize wear and tear versus a single layer of okoume. Also, there will be an embedded s/s t-nut (I love the little things) for the hatch retaining strap hold-down.
So, today's a busy day and I'll sin off for now. Gotta stop and check on the Jensen's and hit that yak.

More later
In the layout and re-designing as well as the building, I have to say that I'm dictating the steps and work. Dave is new to the whole thing and is essentially the customer and assistant, but has good ideas and is as anal as I. One thing I found is the inability he has to spatially conceive the progression of shapes in time. Even explaining the concepts he can't envision the deck coming together but trusts me. I've met others who can't understand things spatial, for instance, explaining the idea of turn points in simple line-of-sight surveying for elevations. I find this fascinating beyond belief...I guess we all have our strengths and weaknesses.