4 th January

Been busy with a paint brush and sandpaper.  

Finally got all the coats done.  1 coat epoxy resin, 2 coats epoxy primer and 2 coats polyurethane top coat. (light sanding with 240 grit between coats)  Now I can glue the pieces into position then back to painting.  I am planning to finish the whole interior before putting the deck on.  It is easier to work inside and much better ventilation for the painting.

Started on the stbd bunk backrest supports.  Woodwork was restricted while painting to avoid dust in my workshop but no painting for tbe next few days.

 2 nd January

Been sanding and painting. 

Doors, drawer and shelving bits getting primer on the workbench.

Forepeak with primer.  Will get a sand and then ready for top coats.

Started with the framing for the port bunk backrest and side lockers/shelf.  The backrest will be 8mm ply with 5mm ply shelf and partitions.

 1st January 2024

Happy New Year!

Just home from new year celebration in Horta Marina.

Big party.  I hope this new year will be a good and prosperous one for all. 

Nuts has taken a back seat the last days as the weather has been very good and calm here in the middle of the Atlantic.  I took the opportunity to go fishing offshore the last days to fill the freezer with some success.  (need a bigger freezer now).  Did manage a few bits here and there though.

Bunk tops now all glued into position and epoxy filleted.  I have also made up the forepeak division and shelf.  The supports are all glued in and now everything is ready for the painting process. I dont have any photos as I dismantled it all after the prefit for painting. Im slowly working my way up to deck level when I will smack the lid on.

 27th December

Hope you all had a good Xmas.  I consumed too many calories but had a festive few days so not too much progress.

Next section in forepeak glued in after drilling holes for mast wiring and cutting and fitting forepeak division to prepare for painting before gluing in. 

Galley slowly taking shape.

Still a way to go

 23rd December

As threatened I was up at sparrow fart and on the sea before the sun was up.  It was cold and choppy but persevered.  First squid got demolished on the way up from 240m deep and only got the head and tentacles.  Guess some happy shark is swimming around.  There was plenty of action and caught my 5 quota allowed.  Didnt take long.  Biggest 4.2kg which sprayed ink all over me and the boat.

Smallest just over 2kg.  Spent less than 1 hour on Nuts this evening just hand sanding a few bits and planning the next session.  Early to bed tonight.

 22nd December

Glued, screwed and ran a fillet around the cover of the flotation foam in the forepeak.  The orange nylon strap is under a section of the foam slabs that I can use for pulling them out if needed.  Once a few of the slabs are removed the rest are easy to remove.  The ply in the bow compartment has been epoxy saturated and will be ready for painting once cured and sanded.  The only way to remove the foam in the bow compartment will be with a jigsaw and a lot of swearing.

Weather looks good here for tomorrow so am going to try to head offshore in my little fishing boat and chase some squid.  Freezer getting low!

 21 st December

Filled the bow with foam sheets and then covered over with glued in  ply coated underneath and edges with epoxy to seal it.  Once glue dry can epoxy coat, prime and paint.