more pics of keel box and, rudder post and mast box

Mainsheet post

Put mainsheet post in today. Under it is a small block of 1/8" ply epoxied to hull for support. Placed the post on it and mixed up a hot batch of peanut butter consistency epoxy with 407 filler(ran out of 410), centered it and let sit overnight. Today I built the brace that you see supporting it to support the deck. Decided on a flat deck. Easier, lighter, and quicker to build.

You can also see the rudder post and brace epoxied in and the rudder servo dry fitted and ready to epoxy.

Note the stern... I cut the original station down to about 1/2" from the hull when planning on doing a skiff deck. No skiff deck planned now, so I added another stern section and will do a cross member on top flush with original station that was cut down. AS a result, the middle portion will be recessed and look pretty neat. Now have a few options to be creative now. Till the next post.

Keel box in

keel box set in epoxy and pre-fitting mast box

Inside glassed today

Did a layer inside as well. Not the whole way fore and aft, but from behind the keel to just forward of wher ethe mast ram bulkhead will be. Plan on at least one more layer of the 1.2 oz glass over where the keel will be. Might even add a layer of 1/32 or 1/64th inch thin ply for more support from top of hull to top of hull on insides by keel and where shroud chainplates will be. Don't want to overbuild so will see how it comes out tomorrow.

Hull Fiberglassed tonight

1.2 oz plain weave fiberglass cloth arrived today. Was dying to get it so I could glass hull then pop the bulkheads out inside and fit keel and rudder and get electronics aligned. Mixed a batch of West System epoxy with slow hardener. Angled the cloth at 45 degrees, poured small amounts on starting by keel hole and went from bow to stern, then squeegeed down and out. Will let it sit for a few hours and then cut cloth at hull topsides while epoxy still green(uncured). Let it cure overnightthen see how it comes out. Will likely need a bit of light sanding with light grit paper, then ready to prime assuming I did as good as a job as I think I did on the sanding the bare balsa prior to the fiberglassing.

Hull planking done

Finally done with planking. Pretty smooth and not much fairing required. Waiting on 1.5 oz plain weave fiberglass to be delivered. Cut hole for keel fin and rudder post. Plan on one layer of glass outside, and epoxy or one layer of same on inside. Ordering keel/mast box from sailsetc. and will fit keel into hull after glassing. I plan on doing skiff deck as of now, but we'll see