(click to return)

Reinforcing the Pilothouse Deck

Summary
(please click on any of the pictures for a larger one - use the BACK button to come back)

During the process of de-rigging the boat for transport and subsequently climbing all over it taking all of the hardware off, I noticed that the pilothouse deck was just a tad "springy". Not much, but just a tad.

Well, since I was cutting out a lot of the core for the new sliding hatch and sea hood, as well as some of the deck hardware backing, I thought I might put in some reinforcement.

This also would actually help with some of my plans for the interior as far a fastening handholds, etc.

I started by cutting the liner where the beam would go, and removing the core material all around the area.

Then I cut a beam to fit both the curvature of the pilothouse deck (as best I could) as well as the little lip that was up around the forward end of the hatch cutout. The other two short beams in the picture were the ones to help close off the opening for the new sliding hatch arrangement.

Lessons Learned

Cutting and grinding fiberglass and gelcoat with a Roto-Zip tool can make a HUGE mess!