Apart from its somewhat experimental nature (to me anyway), my work on this access hatch task has been interrupted quite a bit, so it is still dragging on. Therefore this will be a rather large post documenting up to joining the seal lamination onto the cutout deck.
The following was the latest point in this task:
Using the central template I positioned the 8 pieces and then applied glue to the butted edges. When the glue kicked off but was still slightly soft (but very grippy), I removed the central template and used it to set up and glue the other layer. I then scraped off, (with a sharp chisel), the glue that squeezed out of the butt joins and laid down 400gm double bias all around. Then I repeated the same process again for the other layer.
I did this work in the pool room workshop under air conditioning which kept the epoxy under control. Therefore whilst all was all still green I could spread slightly thickened glue on the newly laid glass and laminate the two layers together.
Below is the completed lamination, with all the excess glue and glass removed.
There was naturally two of these hatch sealing laminations to make, as there are two of most things to do with this boat. The next work involved reinforcing the inside upper facing edge (where the rubber seal will fit against). It is also the edge that will be most in contact with crew. I did this by routing out the inside upper facing edge in the manner
shown here.
Up to this point the two laminates where identical, the routed edge position now making distinct port and starboard items. Subsequently this edge was filled with thickened glue mixture as shown below:
I straight cut routed the inside edge and when Judy took the photos we discovered why the dogs and in particular Scout are in most photos, she seems to pose as she did here below:
Below – Once routed inside the edge looked like this:
Below – The outside edge however, which is to be glassed over after gluing to the underside of the deck, was routed with a 13mm radius round over bit:
The Scrumble Project 