I set a goal of having this floor finished by the end of day Monday--since I'm pretty much done, that will not be a problem. I will be done tomorrow when my last session dries.
These photos were taken over the last few days.
Here is the balsa core glued in. At the time this picture was taken: I was filling in the gaps in the core in the picture below.
The plywood is being used to hold the retaining fiberglass board
strips. Those are being used to seal off the core to prevent water
ingress. The plywood is holding the retaining strips in position.
Below port side glassed in, dried. Note: It is clear enough you can see the tan colored filler and balsa through three or more layers of of fiberglass. I started with two 8" wide layers of matt strips on the outside edges. I added some extra on the aft edge. Then I expoxied down two large pieces of matt and the top layer of cloth. I hoped I could do both sides in one session but that was not practical. I was nice having a strong dry platform to work on the next day when this all dried.
Today I glassed in the other (port) side. Again I started with several
strips of tape on the edges. Then I followed up with two layers of
thick matt
over the entire side, and then covered that with a top layer of
fiberglass cloth--so that the weave provides some traction. Finally
there is a layer of
tape--stitched matt sewn to fiberglass cloth on top of the outside
edge--see the tape
on the top edge?
So
the floors are just about done except for some touch up. I've
completed the bridge connecting the two sides--in right side of photo
above adjacent to the mast. I will need to complete the section in
front (to the left) of the three water tank ports, and to the right of
the opening in the floor
All this means that I can start tabbing in the salon furniture as soon as it is built.
