Main Hull Bow Work Continues

     I had no idea that simply removing the headstay chainplate would evolve into such a long-term project.  But it did!  Now, the work is getting closer to being all done, thank goodness.  I added another piece of wood to the edge on both sides and now Etak has a more typical Searunner look to her, at least on this middle bow.

    The summer solstice just happened here in the Northern Hemisphere a day ago, and the summer sun is certainly warming things up here in the greater Los Angeles--Long Beach, California area.  By mid afternoon until around 5:00 p.m., it is getting warm.  The heat is not too bad, but the intensity of the sun is.  Having had both basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma removed from my back and neck, I am cautious to protect myself as much as I can from the damaging effect of the UV A and B.  Thus, the long-tailed and big billed fisherman's hat in one of the photos below.

    Yesterday, June 21, I put the pulpit on temporarily to ascertain its location and fit. I don't have photos of it on the bow yet, but will soon.

        In this photo above, I am adding the second deck extension or overhang from a strip of furring lumber from Home Depot.  I could not find any vertical grain Douglas Fir.  There was plenty of maple, poplar, and other hardwoods, but only rough 2 x 4's in fir along with other house-building sizes.  A search through the pile of 1 x 2 furring strips yielded a couple with good grain and minimal knots.  This one got split from one end to the other on the table saw tapering from about 1/2" to almost full width.  The remaining half will go to the port side of the bow.

     Here in these two shots above, you can see the foam filling that has been faired, then the add-on of some 1/8" door skin luan held in place with drwall galvanized grabber screws.  They will be removed after the epoxy cures.  This starboard side has the luan attached flush with the hull.  The port side is attached proud of the hull (below) to be faired in with bog since it is slightly off center on that side.

 


     In this photo above, you can see the second furring strips epoxied to the first strips.

     Rough fairing in has begun.

   

     Getting closer to the final stage!

     Soon it will be time to return home to Oregon.  The amount of work that must be done to leave Etak ready for inclement weather is a bit overwhelming.  As each day passes, I worry more and more if we will be able to get all the things done before we depart.  Here it is 6:00 a.m. and I am posting to this blog after having been up since 3:00, and before I know it, I must head for the harbor and another day of work.  Yesterday I removed the Farymann engine from its compartment on the port side of the centerboard trunk.  The little (but too heavy) chunk of iron sits in the galley just below where the oven will be.  The companionway ladder is in place, but ony barely so with the diesel beast occupying much of the floor space.  Today's goal is to get into the now empty engine "room" and sand away until I am happy with the surfaces prior to doing some much needed epoxy work.  The ultimate goal is to get a good coat of paint in this area with the engine removed.  I will try to get some pictures today of the engine in the galley and the empty area before work begins.

     Having the permanent sole of the cockpit out, access to this area is much better.  In fact so much better that I am planning on adding the new sole to be non-permanent but totally waterproof.  It will involve a gasketing system and bolt down similar to how valve covers are installed on automobile engines.  Having that access from above simplifies engine removal and replacement so much that engineering a gasketed-down sole is worth the effort. That little (but heavy) diesel still comes out into the galley via a strong aluminum tube with traveler track and car bolted it.  I lift the engine from its bed with a turnbuckle to the traveler car and slide the beast aft to the opening into the galley.  Then with a 4 x 4 timber or similar across the companionway sliders, I use a block and tackle arrangement to hoist the engine enough to relieve the load on the turnbuckle and swing it to the sole of the galley.  The access from above is simply for me to lean into and attach the various items used to move the engine, remove the alternator (it makes it a little wide to come out through the opening into the galley), and have a bit more work room.  In a vessel this small, the engine cannot be lifted out through this sole opening as it is only about a foot wide.