13 th February

Took a gap from house painting.

Faired in the deck stringers and put the ply on top to get an idea of how it was working out.

Cut and pre fitted foredeck.  Also drilled mounting bolt holes for forestay chainplate and gave it a trial fit.  I have long arms and just managed to  reach the nuts on the inside through the hatch.

Cut out inner forestay chainplate from 316 plate and gave it a grind, sand , drill and polish and gave it a prefit.  Happy with the result.  There will be a separate eyebolt for the tack of a storm jib or safety harness fixing point. Im not sure if it will be allowed for the Atlantic Challenge  but at least it will be all ready to go.

This evening I filled all the previously overdrilled holes that had not been filled yet as well as the new ones from today.  

House painting while the epoxy cures then I can redrill the holes through the epoxy and do a final test fit before starting the deck covering process.