New Layout

Made some tweaks to the layout, including blog search bar and some cool links on right margin. Open to any constructive feedback- any thoughts are appreciated. Thnx
Mike

Backin it up

Installment 39 of a classic Mako Restoration

As stiff as those gunnels may be, we still need a bit of heft to support cleats. This pic shows the area we're talking about.


With handle removed, the RAS sander just fit in this tight spot and made quick work of grinding out the high spots.




2 backing plates fashioned from G10 make bomb-proof backing material. The side to be glued was scuffed up with grinder for adhesion.

We mixed up MAS epoxy with 407 microballoons and cab-o-sil to peanut butter consistency. Again the 407 micro-balloon filler really helps this stuff stay put, crucial for overhead applications like this.

Buttered up the bonding side like it's a tile.

Then stuck it like a postage stamp, with some back and forth wiggle to bed it in place.

The excess is a good sign we've got enough glue in there to hold.

We did the exact same procedure on the port quarter.

These quarters are ready for some cleats.

Spotty Gunwales

The remaining epoxy made good filler for fairing patches we've made along the gunnels.

Dings and Dents

Installment 38 of 19ft Mako Restoration

We're primed to restore the inboard sides where the fishboxes used to live. Before we close those sides up though, we mused over aft cleats. Always dangerous to start thinking midway through. "Hmmm...how's that gonna work when we can't reach em? Not very well now is it." Altered plan, let's prep for cleat install before we close up those sides.

In the meantime, we took a walk around the boat. There's a mess of minor crash damage dirtily repaired with 5200. Looks like heck. Time to pull out the grinder and make some patches.


We experimented with MAS resin thickened with cab-o-sil. Some light 6 oz cloth for strength over the small spots.





Scraps of Quadraxial cloth cut to size made excellent patches over larger damage.



Where damage was extensive, we tabbed the topside liner to the hull.




Once this stuff is cured, we'll skim over these areas with filler to even the surface.

Transom tie-in

Our gunnel to transom repair required a little more tweaking. We ground a smooth transition from new to old, and layered some 6 oz cloth to fair the dip with a bit of strength.









While we were at it, we prepped the sides for bonding. The RAS Rotary sander with 24 grit quickly extended the bevel a good 5 inches. These sides are shaping up!