December 2009
With the hull sanded I filled all remaining divots and ding's with
410 Microlight
from West systems. Very easy to use although my wetting resin is a little
too runny to prevent sagging for the large area on the port flank where I
over tightened the sides to a slightly under sized bulkhead, causing a slight hollow . Ahem...
This first fill is to establish the high points which once sanded to the
correct hull profile will allow the remaining area to be filled easily.
In order to sand these to the hull shape I made a long sanding strip with
handles at each end. Getting the stiffness right is a little tricky, too much
and it will struggle to follow the correct profile and too little and you
hardly remove any material.
Once this area is faired through, the next job is sheathing the hull. A project I
promised myself I would have done by Christmas. Well I haven't. But I have
taken delivery of the
glass cloth,
124g per m2 this time, rather
then the 200g per m2 that I used on the keel. So hopefully, it will
wet out much more easily.
December rounded out with a holiday, a Nile cruise on the ss Misr; Luxor, Aswan then back to Luxor. Lot's of temples, tombs and a pleasant 25 degrees ambient.
Here's a shot taken at Aswan as the sun sets on the Feluccas sailing around Elephantine Island.
However, before I left the UK I filled the hull side area to ensure it was fully
cured by the time I returned.