18th August

Keel removed and filler strip visible along the edge.  >It was easy to remove with the epoxy filler releasing well from the parcel tape on the hull.

You can see the distortion on the plate from the welding.  It got worse after the zinc spraying

 which  is maybe from the heat of the molten zinc and flames in the process? I dont know but happy with the coating and easy to fix.

This is the keel plate with zinc spray and 1 coat of epoxy ready for fairing the mounting plate.  You can also see the lead bulb halves with epoxy filler on the outside to get them nice and smooth.  Already filled and flattened the insides of the lead bulbs.

Getting hull ready to turn on its side.

Bulbs skimmed with filler and will hand sand in 24 hours (or later as going fishing tomorrow)

Only turned the hull about 90 degrees so I can work on the bow compartment.

Putting extra reinforcing fillets on the stringers with silica, micro fibers and a few glass beads in the mix.  Not too worried about getting it nice and smooth and good looking.  Just want it strong as it will all be covered in more epoxy resin, epoxy primer and filled with foam sheets and spray foam up to the bottom of the hatch and sealed over.  The rest of the compartment will be filled with pet bottles to enable access to the deck fittings and bow chainplate.

So much easier to work inside the bow compartment with the hull on its side.  Will do a light sanding and give the whole compartment a coat or two of epoxy resin and a few coats of epoxy primer now as once filled with foam flotation there will be no access.