February 19, 2018
The day had arrived to get the rails installed on Joule. I set up for the installation, and with some assistance, and got straight to it. I inserted each fastener just a few threads into each hole to prep for the final installation, and then applied a liberal amount of Boatlife Life-Calk, a flexible polysulfide, to the underside of the rails.
While my assistant for the day held the aft end of the rail, I began at the bow and set the fasteners securely in their pre-drilled holes.
We worked our way around Joule, setting the toe rails first, and the completing the rub rails. I allowed the Life-Calk squeeze out to partially set up before removing with a firm plastic filleting tool. The residue of the polysulfide was cleaned up with a solvent.
I completed the day by inserting bungs in each of the fastener holes. One by one, I painted each bung with Epifanes varnish and seated them as far into the fastener hole as possible. The varnish would serve as a glue to hold the bung into an already snug fitting, but would also water-tight the bung hole. In the coming days, after the varnish has fully cured, I will come back with a chisel and remove the portion of the bung standing proud of the rail - a tedious but necessary task.
Total Time Today: 5.5 hrs