Step 16b Working the Seats, Stowage and Transom

Well another day went by and still more progress to report. I used the router to round out the seat edges and that went pretty smoothly. I managed to cover every wood surface in epoxy and as noted earlier the epoxy is running out. Broke down and purchased a 1 litre kit to finish it up. I also managed to fair out the breast hook floor seams and everywhere where there were fiberglass seams that needed to be smoothed out. Prior to doing the faring I sanded the entire interior of the boat. Nasty, hot, sweaty, dirty job, but it is required. I have to keep reminding myself that the in order for the everything to stick together all of the surfaces must be properly prepped.

So things that are left to do,

1) finish the fiber glassing of the seats and breast hook

2) fiber glass the rub rails

3) sand down the seams,

4) fare out the seams,

5) sand down all the seams again, make ready for paint,

6) flip the boat to sand and paint the exterior, (several coats required)

7) once dry and cured, flip the boat again to paint the interior, (again several coats required)

8) Once dry and cured install the fiddly bits, bow & stern navigation/anchor lights, 12 volt outlets for other accessories, (bilge pump, fish finder etc,) and a 30 ampere twist lock receptacle for the electric start/charging circuit on the outboard.

9) license the craft as it will be receiving an outboard of between 15 and 25 horse power.

So all in all not too much to finish up but the time it will take may mean that the boat may not see water until late September. Oh well.

Here are a few pics of where I am at today.

Breast hook fared in ready for a glass coat. Anchor stowage is pretty big and will also house the emergency gear.

Seats glued in and filleted, sanded and ready for glass. 3/8 stainless tubing used for bow navigation lights.

View from the front, I think the center area will house the battery and electrical bits. Maybe some tool storage as well. The under seat stowage should be more than adequate for fishing gear and PFD's.

A better view of the center stowage area.

Rear corner showing how the transom is mated to the rest of the hull. Several layers of epoxy and heavy 17 oz. fiberglass cloth as well as 6 oz. cloth here.