Bulkhead Problems

Work on the keel fin continues.  We baked the keel fin in the makeshift oven seen below to provide the final cure.  Now the piece is ready to be CNC cut into the correct shape.

Next, we started preparing to repair the main bulkhead.  While removing the paint to prepare the bulkhead for repair, we discovered a problem.

The flange is the inside rim of the opening

Close up picture of the flange

As you can see, there is a white line of material in the middle of the flange.  This white material is filling a crack down the center of the bulkhead.  This means that the two fiberglass skins of the bulkhead are not connected.  This makes the bulkhead weak.  Basically, the original builders of the boat did a bad job.  We will have to repair the bulkhead by adding new fiberglass to join the two skins.

This is a picture of a properly made bulkhead (made by Leo and Vlad)

We also installed the tubing for the internal tack lines

The space heater is curing the carbon plate onto the bow

The tubing takes each tack line from the inside of the prod, through the bow, and up unto the deck

The foam block is holding the tubes at the right angle so the tack will run smoothly to the front of the prod

The tack line tubes inside the bow looking forward

The tack line tubes inside the bow looking aft

After the tubes where glued in, we added fiberglass to the two ends of the tube on the outside of the boat.

Tack line tube before the fiberglass is applied

First, the fiberglass, soaked in epoxy, is applied

Then the stack is added on top.  In this case the stack is peel ply and then a baby blanket

Then the vacuum seal is added on top of a stack of baby blanket and breather (this stack helps the vacuum to properly form) 

Vacuum tape is added around area

Finally, the vacuum is applied

Done

Finally, we have been preparing to install the rear starboard stanchion.  It is a very tight space in the back of the boat.  Being that I am the smallest, I have the easiest time getting back there.  Leo has been sending me back and then facetiming me so he can see what is going on without having to climb back there himself.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of watching my sister competitively rock climb.  Climbing is a surprisingly good spectator sport and I had a really fun time watching my sister.  She place 5th overall for the weekend, meaning that she qualified for bouldering nationals.

I finished my weekend by catching up with my classmates living who are living in Newport Rhode Island and working at New England Boatworks.