I’m Soooo Blue……..
by Jake on Feb.26, 2006, under Composite Works
In color that is! I had a pretty good day today even though it was pretty cool outside. The starboard hull has all the shaping completed. After finish sanding with 120 grit paper and my long board, I put one thin layer of filler in some pin holes and some areas that didn’t quite get enough in the first round. I’m pretty proud of the results thus far – but I need to stay focused. Everyone keeps reminding me how much time I have left (I also put an automated count down thing under the “about us” text to the right). Bonnie helped me swap hulls on my saw horses and after examining them without the hull on them, I began to feel like I was asking a bit much of my saw horses. The continuous back and forth motion from the sanding was not making them happy. I took a few minutes and sawed up a 2×4 to make some bracing on the horses. They’re very happy now. I went after the port hull with the long board and it is sanded enough to clearly identify the low spots. This hull is in worse shape and I have a bit more sanding to do with 100 grit to get through most of the deep scratches. Tomorrow is supposed to be warm again (why not on the weekends!?) so the trip to the gym will be EARLY so I can get in to work early and get out a little early too.
The aluminum boxes are supposed to be welded up and ready for me to bring them home tomorrow (one for us – one for a friend). I took one of the two I20 boxes off it’s trailer so I can bring home the aluminum boxes one by one. Because we’re going to have just one box on the trailer, I made it as wide as possible and I can’t fit two side by side on this trailer. I remembered that some of the trailer lights weren’t working and since I’ll be getting out considerably before sunrise tomorrow, I traced a problem with the trailer lights. Ultimately I found a couple of wires that were connected incorrectly. Although the sidemarkers are suffering from poor grounding, both back lights work fine now. It should be good enough to get around town.
Originally uploaded by Team Seacats.
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Dubai Prevailing Wind
September 25th, 2006 on 10:02 AMwind speed meter…
Interesting post. I came across this blog by accident, but it was a good accident. I have now bookmarked your blog for future use. Best wishes. Dubai Prevailing Wind Website Team…..
February 27th, 2006 on 8:46 PM
Did you figureout how to do the blue gelcoat?
February 27th, 2006 on 8:55 PM
Well….I have a plan if that’s what you mean.
Frank pointed out that I have a pint of blue gelcoat from Performance Catamarans (it was buried in the trailer boxes). I have another pint on order since I didn’t think one pint would be enough. I should have some material to test with first.
The plan is this: find somewhere warm (or get lucky with the weather). I could borrow a garage from a friend or possibly use a paint booth at work on a weekend. Thin the gelcoat with styrene (although some will advise using acetone), keep the spray gun cold after mixing in hardner so the gelcoat doesn’t try to cure, spray the boat, let it just start to gel, spray again, and maybe get three coats on. Then clean the gun with acetone, refill with PVA (poly vinyl alcohol) and spray the fresh gelcoat to provide an air barrier so it will cure fully. While I’m sure it will work, I don’t know how much work will be required to get a pretty finish afterwards.
February 27th, 2006 on 9:04 PM
My only concern would be getting the color to match for the most part. It is nice you have some of the original gelcoat. Hopefully it will all work out. I was under the impression that once you do spray on the gelcoat and let it cure then you are done… you don’t have to do anything else- it dries all nice a shiny
maybe I am wrong… as I have never done anything with gelcoat (but my spray paint on my bow is chipping.. so maybe taking that off and using gelcoat wouldn’t be a bad idea 