Interior Grinding / Tabbing Work

For the week of October 5th, actually for a couple hours each on the 5th and the 6th, as well as the weekend - 10th and 11th - I focused attention on Froonie's interior.

The list was pretty varied, and I am roughly 70% done with prep on the interior. I finished removal of the port tabbing of the v-berth, and then prepared for new tabbing installation. Next, I continued grinding in the forward berth, removing the paint on the berth itself - bringing the surface down to bare wood. I then vacuumed the surface (including hull surface), and thoroughly wiped down all surfaces with acetone to prepare for epoxy application. I cut tabbing to length, for both the port and starboard side, then wet out roughly 4" on the berth surface and 4" up the hull surface. Prior to applying the new tabbing (6oz cloth), I filled the larger depressions with epoxy thickened with 407 low-density filler. Finally, I applied the tabbing and then completely wet the fiberglass out ensuring full saturation.

Next on the list was sanding all surfaces within the forward berth area: berth, hull, and deck undersides. I also sanded the newly applied tabbing. Sanding the deck undersides was not a fun task...and the next project boat I do, I will be sure to have a full mask respirator - would have been nice, much better than a half-mask and goggles. I also took the time to strengthen the very forward section of the v-berth, as it was a bit worn and flexed through time and abuse. Instead of tearing out the plywood and re-installing new plywood, I decided to fill with thickened epoxy and lay glass down to add strength and fairness.

Next on the list was needed attention at the port settee. I finished up removing all the old tabbing, and grinding the hull smooth (relatively) with my 4.5" grinder and a 40 grit flap wheel - which I preceded to apply to my right thumb...ouch!! Yep, I kept working...well, for about 15 minutes and then sought medical attention - a good cleaning, neosporin and a band-aid. Okay, so my next trip down, I continued work on the port settee: vacuumed all surfaces, thoroughly wiped down with aceton, and began mixing epoxy. I wet out the surface as I had done for the starboard settee and forward berth, then applied epoxy thickened with 407 low density filler. I had to work quickly due to ambient temperatures being so hot and causing the epoxy to kick much quicker than normal. I laid down the 6oz cloth, and feverishly began to wet out the surface, making sure the cloth was completely saturated. At the same time, and which you can not see from this photo, I re-tabbed the bulkhead just forward of the port settee. My pot of epoxy was fully smoking as I completed this tabbing installation - gotta work quick and efficiently with this stuff.

Finally, I turned my attention to filling low spots and screw holes in the coach roof. You can see here the forward port side of the coach roof: sanded, wiped down with acetone and faired with 407 low density filler.

I have some additional sanding to do on the interior, but I am pretty close to starting to put things back together.