Back to the Cornish Crabber and fitting the lower mast support post.

 

Having been away from the project for a while I thought I would bring you up to speed. 

The centreboard is now all glassed in position and with more re-enforcement than before to ensure the re-installed centreboard case does not every come away. The centreboard case will have re-enforcement knees glassed either side of the pivot point to give the area added strength and support. 

However, before they are fitted the lower part of the mast support post is getting fitted to the forward face of the centreboard case.

The support post is first being bonded to the hull at the bottom and along the aft face with epoxy resin/glue  which as been thickened with mixture of epoxy filler powders so that the resin/glue mixture can take up any minor void and make a strong bond between the faces.

The support post is being held in position a pair of clamps while the epoxy resin/glue cures over the next few days and then the epoxy resin/glue will be sanded back and then a series of epoxy fillet will be profiled into the area at the front of the centreboard case and at the bottom of the post so that the fibreglass will be able to follow the curves and lay flat without ant air pockets in the layup as it goes around the many curves. 

Once the support post is all fibreglassed into position the top of the post will be cut to is final height and the stainless steel upper part of the support post which will take the mast pressure coming down through the deck via the deck beams and also the lifting tackle that is going to be fitted to the support post as well.

Once the mast support post is glassed into position then, it will be time to turn our attention to to support knees on the two sides of the centreboard case and fitting the deck beams and making the upper support post to be fitted to the lower part of the support post.