Here is a little photo review & summary of the chainplate swap & bow repair that is nearly complete. Just needs a light sanding and final Awlgrip coat on a non-windy day. This yard is THE ABSOLUTE WORST place to try and paint or varnish anything. I feel like I’m trying to paint during Desert Storm… everything I paint is non-skid, which I suppose isn’t all that bad. OSHA would approve.

1. Removed cracked SS bobstay chainplate, which went right through the hull and was glassed over on the inside of the forepeak… which by the way is a lovely place to grind fiberglass on a hot July day.

2. Filled gap in a quick fix kind of manner… because I thought it would be OK that way, and I was already late getting the boat in the water, and summer was running out. Little did I know I’d never get sailing that summer. Haste makes waste!

3. Design and install new chainplates. Bronze is my preference. Looks better, feels better and costs alot more – MUST BE BETTER!

4. Decided the simple, thickened epoxy filled hole was a poor fix and that I should really do it right. Grinded back the bow area with some 36 grit on a 4″ grinder. Now we’re talkin! Oooops, took a little more off than I expected. Found a few small voids during this little archealogical dig into Costa Mesa Glass Layup.

5. Begin process of what I thought would be 3-4 layers of glass cloth — turned out to be 10 layers total: 9 cloth, 1 mat, all laid up with West System.  I laid 2-3 layers per day all at the same time.

6. Fair in the last bit with some thickened epoxy. I used 406, because that’s what I had laying around. Fairing is difficult for me, I think I’m fair-challenged.

7. Paint and paint again. Voila, not too bad for a novice. Good job Ben! I taped off and brushed on the AWLGRIP top coat over this repair. Maybe there’s a better way to fair it in with a brush… I don’t know. If you have some ideas let me know, I’ll try them. At least the paint color matches pretty well, and it’s in an inconspicuous spot.