Great! We will be able to meet up, then!

Posted By: Gary, Santana 2023A, Milwaukee
Date: 5/5/08 10:45a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Hello Gary (Bob Frak 2023C Marquette Mi.)

I'll be launching from Spanish. Either the 12th, or 19th, not sure yet. However, would be excellent to 'bump' into you guys! Before then, lets make sure we swap #'s via email. The project goes slowly, albeit it well enough. We've had cold and rain since forever. Got tired of waiting for the boat to dry out, so last Friday I did the removed sole pieces while inside the garage. Wow! While I always believe that water will eventually find it's way to wood, it has a tough fight on it's hands. Several layers of epoxy and a heavy 'glass mesh later, this thing will certainly outlive me. Saturday, I finished the 'initial' inside prep work. A quick damp scrubdown, and I'm ready to start laying the glass and epoxy inside... but still waiting several HOT days in a row to ensure all dampness removed. A funny thing about that port and starboard seam. I keep mentioneing how she's "weeping" small trace amounts of moisture. More a visible thing, as it's so light you can't actually FEEL the moisture when you rub it. I got suspicious about the fact that where I removed the outer 'skin' and protruding layer of this stuff (discolored, brown, etc) I didn't get any weepage. Suspicious that PERHAPS what I have here, is an accumulation of years of light weight oil film/fuel from just flooding the chamber with the marina water (always slightly fouled) right there at the ramps. As is, things looked pretty good this morning. The one area of moisture is the aft port side, which makes sense, as that's the area where I left in much more of the sole deck. Oh, well, wish she was done, but no major hurries, yet. Got to scrub her down, then frame out the sole, build new internal compression post, then glass. Then, hurry up and wait a couple of days, then seal her up. By the way, the sole is not marine plywood. It is basic 'exterior 1/2" plywood'... and not even close to 'top shelf' stuff at that (the dye stampings on the underside are very clearly legible). Anyway, back to the cruise: I'm meeting up with some Canadian friends of mine at Spanish, and we expect to 'meander' eastwards, also. Kilarny and beyond, maybe. No set destination in mind, just relax, take each day as it comes. Gary