First Coat of Primer: Topsides

October 30, 2017

After finishing up a late afternoon appointment, I raced home to prepare for Joule's first coat of primer for her topsides.  I removed the materials from a couple boxes - Interlux Primekote, a two-part epoxy primer to be used for the Interlux Perfection topcoat paint; and sorted the specific items for the task at hand.  

I combined parts A and B, and then set it aside to allow for the products induction period.  While the paint was chemically doing its 'thang', I went around Joule with rag and solvent to remove any last remaining contaminants.  At this time, I also taped off the stem fitting and chain plates.  

The last items taped off and the hull cleaned and ready for paint, the induction period had come to an end and so now it was time to begin painting.  I grabbed a 4" fine, solvent-resistant foam roller and a paint tray lined with plastic wrap and started at Joule's counter.  It always a pleasing to see the first coat of primer applied to a Cape Dory's counter...now that it had been freed of the hideous motor mount securely installed with no less than 8 bolts!  Joule's lines, as they were meant to be appreciated, were coming back!

I worked my way across the counter, down the starboard side, around the stem, and back down the port side.  Once I had completed the topsides I returned to the aft to apply a coat of primer on the poop deck.  My motivation for getting the first coat of primer on was two-fold: one, I wanted to get a UV protective layer of primer on the recent epoxy work, and two, I wanted to better isolate areas that required a bit more attention prior to applying those second, third and potentially fourth and final coats of primer.  I managed to get things completed just as darkness was settling in for the evening - happy to have this milestone reached.

Total Time Today: 1.5 hrs

Completing Locker Lids & Prepping Topsides for Primer

October 29, 2017

Finally making my way into the shop - the weather is finally gorgeous in Florida! - I moved back onto the locker lids to complete their fabrication.  The day prior I had painted out the top and sides with a coat of epoxy as a sealer coat before I prime them with a two-part finish paint.  Today I went straight into creating what can only be described as miniature stringers for the underside in order to further strengthen them for adult use - though the owners of Joule are in superb shape and this is probably overkill, but...

I located a large teak dowel that had been loitering in my shop for quite a while - nearly 2" in diameter - cut it in half, and then again cut the two pieces lengthwise to create four half-moon shapes of roughly 8" in length.  I sanded the ends of the stringers into a taper that would allow for a layer of 1708 biaxial to more easily layover them.  I then arranged the stringers in a staggered pattern, two to each locker lid as can be seen below.

These supports will ensure that the locker lids see many seasons of use!  After having them arranged on the underside of the lids just as I liked, I then traced their outline to ensure I they found their proper home when time came to glue them in.

I removed the stringers and wet the underside of the locker lids out with epoxy.  As the undersides were tacking up, I cut four lengths of 1708 biaxial to cover and adhere them to the lids.  With the lengths of 1708 tape cut, I then mixed a batch of thickened epoxy (406 silica and 407 low-density filler) and applied a healthy amount within the boundary of the traced stringer locations.  I painted epoxy on the undersides of the stringers and firmly pressed them into position, squeezing the thickened epoxy out around the edges.  With a portion of a squeegee held to the underside of the lid and gently resting on the edge of the stringer, I created a fillet around the stringer.  I followed this process for each stringer.

After cleaning up the thickened epoxy from around the fillets that I had just created, I then turned to wetting the cloth out with epoxy.  I saturated both sides of each length of 4" 1708 biaxial tape, and then squeezed out the excess epoxy with a squeegee.  I then lifted the fiberglass into place, gently pressed into position with my fingers, and lastly rolled the glass out with a fin roller.

With the fabrication of the locker lids completed, I turned my attention back to Joule's topsides. Another goal for the day was to get a coat of protective primer on her topsides - protection for the recent epoxy work from the UV rays.  I sanded the spot-filled areas of yesterday after water-washing them to remove the amine blush and dried the surfaces.  I then wiped the topsides thoroughly with a degreaser agent to clean up any potential contaminants that I might of missed in previous cleaning.  After the surface was cleaned with the degreaser, I taped off the waterline.  With the waterline taped off, I wiped the surfaces down a second time with another solvent.  It was at this time that I realized painting would not be happening today despite my keen interest in it.  The day's gorgeous temperature was kept company by an equally gorgeous breeze - of which I am currently enjoying as I prepare this post!  I just would not have time to lay down a smooth application of primer since the wind would cause the paint to flash before the paint could be allowed to flow out to a nice smooth surface.  So, I now enjoy the balance of the day, an awesome fall breeze pushing through, and Joule is ready for her first coat of primer!

Total Time Today: 2 hrs

Sanding Locker Lids, Deck and Hull & Cabin Sole Core Work

October 28, 2017

I started early this morning with a quick water-wash of the previous fairing application and then proceeded to sand the cockpit locker lids.  I used the RO sander to hit the larger surfaces, and then transitioned to hand-sanding for the tight inner radius of the inside corners and for careful shaping of the outside corners.  With that taken care of, I vacuumed the surfaces and wiped down the surface with solvent to remove the remaining dust and prep for a coat of 'neat' epoxy.  But for now I had an appointment to get to which, so I closed the shop for the morning.

With my appointment taken care of, I returned to the shop and got straight to work on sanding Joule's topsides and deck.  The fairing work on Joule's topsides, deck, and cockpit are drawing to a close.  My hope is to get a protect primer coat on at least her topsides by this weekend...but alas, we shall see.  I did not snap and photos of the post-sanding session, but recall the smoothness of a newborn's honey :)  I did in find a few areas that required spot fill work, so while I prepared the cabin sole for coring I prepped those areas for fill by wetting them out with straight ('neat') epoxy.  With those spot fill areas prepped, I then wet out the bottom skin of the cabin sole.  Prior to wetting the cabin sole bottom skin out I did do some sanding and removal of more rotten core.  The line you see emerging from the bilge is holding a brace the length of the cabin sole in order to help it retain its shape during the recore work.

With the bottom skin ready to receive new core, I moved back to the shop to mix thickened epoxy to bed the new core material.  I started by pushing thickened epoxy into the edges, and pushing narrow width strips into and underneath the edges (areas that I have ground a taper for tabbing the new topskin to).  I then filled in the inner field with the larger core pieces.

Before closing the boat up for the night, I laid a sheet of plastic over the new core and applied some weight to keep the core and bottom skin the 'best of friends'!

Returning to the shop, I mixed a pot of neat epoxy and with a foam brush applied a sealer coat on the cockpit seat locker lids.  I will be reinforcing the locker lids tomorrow by glassing in a small stringer on the underside of the lids.

Before closing the shop for the evening, I put a coat of thickened epoxy on the top of the companionway slide hatch.  Fabricating the brightwork is just around the corner!

Total Time Today 6.75 hrs