Transom step mods

Earlier (last year) I had cut some steps into the transoms to help boarding at low docks.

Before (fresh biax glued on sheer line from barge damage in 1994):

After:

So I've been working inside before the shop gets too hot - in the cramped little space reinforcing the joints with roving and coving. Not fun, especially on an older body. Feeling lots of little aches from twisting my neck around, sitting on my legs, and reaching into nearly inaccessible areas. Feels good, though, to get that done. Next step will be cleaning it up and painting. Also adding a kickup rudder line tube (to hold rudder cassette down).

Cabin top

Vacuum bagged the top layer of 1/4" plywood onto the balsacore today. Next is to finish sanding down the top to match the sides, round the edges over a bit, and fiberglass the outside.

Cabin taking shape

Roof on cabin is progressing. First, after planing down sides to proper bevel/height, I glued on 1/4" plywood using clamps and a few screws. Cauls under the clamps so I wouldn't have little indents - lets the ply form a better fair arc.

Next is vacuum bagging on some balsa-core. I first coated the top edge of the sides - half a foam roller width - with epoxy and let that set up to provide a good surface for sticky tape for the vacuum bag. Then coated the balsacore and ply with epoxy and set up the bag - letting it run for about 4.5 hours or so. Epoxy was pretty well set by then, using fast hardener at about 50 degs. F. (outside temp.)

Pulled the scrim off the balsacore and am ready for tomorrow to glue top layer of 1/4" ply to the balsacore, completing the composite assembly. After that - plane down the edges of the top to match the sides, go over the edges with a round-over bit in a router, and then give the outside a layer of 6 oz. fiberglass cloth/epoxy. Debating if I need cloth on the inside - don't know at this point. Could be fine with a two-part paint, perhaps - over a coat of epoxy.

Fitting cabin

Got some work done on the cabin. Next thing is to put a roof over it.