If n' When II -- Deck Fiberglas

Click on the photos for a larger, uncropped version

Once the cockpit recess was stripped and the deck was finally sanded, I cleaned up the area a bit, put plastic back down on the floor, and masked the hull in preparation for glassing.

I decided to use 3.7 oz fabric on the deck. It lays out smooth and takes less epoxy to fill than the 6 oz. that I'm using for the hull.

I couldn't resist the chance to take a half done picture. Everyone seems to have their own preferred tools, techniques, and sequence for applying epoxy. Unlike the hull, I decided to not use a sealer coat before the glass. (Actually, I didn't want to lose the time because my kayak polo night was going to interfer with my glassing schedule if I took the time to do a sealer coat.) Anyway, I used a 3" bristle brush, the cheap kind, to apply the epoxy, working back and forth across the deck as I worked aft. Worked for me!

I fabricated three bulkhead blanks while I was stripping the cockpit recess, and used the trimmings from the deck glass for them. I had to try the "tissue paper in the ink jet printer" trick, just to see how it would work out. My daughter says she can see the paper, but I can't. This bulkhead will go right behind the seat, forming the front bulkhead for the day hatch.

This is how it looks with the first coat of epoxy. I sure like the contrast of the Port Orford cedar with the Western Red cedar. I wish I could remember whose boat it was at the R2K1 Rendezvous hosted by Redfish Kayaks that had the Port Orford trim. That was what put me on a search for the golden hue!

The poplar in the shear strip doesn't contrast much with the Port Orford -- can't have everything!

At this point, the deck has two fill coats and I'll cut out for the cockpit recess tonight. I'm going to built a hybrid Nick Shade / Vaclav Stejskal style coaming. We're still on schedule to make an end of February splash date.

Meanwhile, I'm starting to spend a fair amount of time researching the Discovery Islands / Desolation Sound area of British Columbia. If all goes well at work, I should be able to get a chunk of time next summer to spend 15-20 days paddling in the area before the Wooden Kayak Rendezvous in Port Townsend.