Adding ribs for stiffening of forward hull.  Built up mast gate perimeter with blocks where main support arms attach.  Preparing deadwood blocks to fill keelson and frames above keel flange.

All the forward deck beams are fitted, coated with epoxy and ready for installation.  May pause to do some interior work before access becomes more limited.


Beam I mounted after construction from separate pieces. The fore stay chain plate will mount just aft of this beam.

Measure C deck beam span.  Should have removed the 6mm ply sheet acting as the deck offset.  The left right span and vertical offset indicate beam radius.  The deck shape is portion of a cone.

Layout of pattern for deck beam E.

Common sense dictates to assemble symmetrically.  After installing only the starbord supports the mast gate has been pushed off center by 2mm.  And after installing the port side it did not improve, decide to leave it...or file it.  Following Nicolson guide the front deck structure will consist of cross beams spaced about 150mm.  Just not sure if I will use a ply sheet or cold mold the deck.

 

Pattern fitting -  hot glue is great.

 

Made up these brushes as I am not able to stomach the cost of one time use brushes for epoxy.   I cut up squeegees that were degrading and stapled them to sticks.  These work excellent and allow finesse in pushing adhesive around where you want it.  Various radius ends also work well.   Free, reuseable!!  

Get em out by Friday!

The rudder stock bore was enlarged but the angle is really screwed up.  I should have taken the angle wrt the keelson by setting up rudder along side.  I used 81 degree from the cad drawing and...I will plug the upper hole and reset.  I thought I read in the rules that the aft edge of the rudder is to be parallel to the transom but I do not see it any where.  Any body know about this rule?  Anyhow the barb fitting and rubber tube link work fine.  

Avoiding that headache lets move to the mast gate and structure.  After re-positioning / leveling the center section it was fastened in place with hot glue and left over battens.  Alignment has worked out well and the tail is finally in my teeth.  The first support is being fitted with a pattern.  Four of these will extend to the gate attaching just outside of the fore and aft mast position centers.

Nine frames are now installed between stations 7 and 3 with matting glass.  Sub floor will be built on top of these after buoyancy tanks installed.   Glued in aft bulkheads and water tight compartment.  After rudder stock bulkheads are built in I will add deck support beams.  The rudder stock pilot hole has been drilled through.  After it is enlarged the rudder will be fitted and aligned then potted in with epoxy at top and bottom.  A barbed fitting on the lower bearing block will fit a tube that reaches up to the deck.