I'm still working inside the vaka.  At least some progress is being made and I should be able to paint the cargo holds soon.

I can't believe how long it has taken to get the mast step just right.  Several compound angles that have to end up perfect and strong is not all that difficult, but it is time consuming. 


Finally it is glued into the hull.  When the fillets dry the final step will be to reinforce the setup with fiberglass tape.  The result is perfect.  When I place the mast tube into the step it is vertical side-to-side and has exactly 3 degrees of rake.

The next big task was installing the shear clamps to support the floors.  This was fairly easy.  All I had to do was use my table saw to rip the clamps.  Ripping these clamps was easier than the shear clamps because I didn't have to scarf any joints.


Here the floor stringers are dry installed.  The tape across the top of the stringers is there so I know where to apply the glue after I take the stringers out. 


I used System Three GelMagic in their U-TAH cartridge to glue in the floor stringers.  In my opinion, this is the only way to buy GelMagic.  It is extremely efficient and easy to use in this package form.  I used slightly less than one cartridge (6.45 oz. per cartridge) to install all the floor stringers.  I have about an ounce left.  The cartridge cap allows that single ounce to be saved for further use by just putting the cap back on.  This truly is engenious.  My opinion of System Three special mixes is improving after initial reviews

During this time I've also been working on the frames for the hatches in the floor.  This has required several laminating steps because I want the hatches recessed into the floor as much as possible. 


Here the floors have been dry fit onto the stringers.  It took an hour or two to trim and sand the edges just right to get a perfect fit.  Notice those round imperfections in the photo.  That is microscopic particles in the air that get picked up by the flash.  This shows I need better dust control in my shop. 


Here the hatches are placed onto the floors more or less where they will be located.


This shows the floors, frames, hatches, and cockpit rim layed out on the assembly table more or less in the position they will have when installed.  The hatch frames will be glued to the underside of the floor panels and provide a landing for the hatch rim.  The hatches stick up roughly 3/8 of an inch.  The floors are roughly 1/4 of an inch so the hatches will be 1/8 inch higher than the floor.  This isn't too bad.  But I am considering routing the frames an additional 1/8 inch so the hatches are recessed to be flat with the floor.  I haven't decided for sure yet.

        

 

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