My winter Project

20.11.2010

Centreboard crack now filled with epoxy.  Using room temperature slightly thinned with the hot air gun and easy on the hardener to give a long cure time 

Very happy with this repair its a bit of a bodge but not sure what else could have been done without major woodworking surgery. I guess the proper chippy solution would be to mill out a complete section and replace with fresh wood.

The very slow process of wood fillets, not only are they slow to make having to be fitted  by hand then have to wait 24 hours without disturbing the case while the glue cures.  Again I used Gorilla glue to wetted surfaces. Though I think epoxy may arguably be better, if even slower. Also very lucky to have a good wood match with the unobtainable mahogany, a salvage kindly donated.

The cutout in the front section of the case also needs to be filled with a fillet, going to take some careful fitting.

13.11.2010

Centreboard case dissembled, and the varnish, paint, glassfibre and epoxy mixture removed. . Main problems

• One side has two large splits in the wood running nearly the whole length of the case

• Its forward end is soaking wet

• Damp has got inside the case and split the sides apart

• Lots and lots of wood damage, screws have pulled out or the wood is so split it needs removing

• Its full of holes and splits from fittings long since gone

• The top caps are so badly split rotten and damaged there write offs.

• Both side mortises are badly eroded and lost all shape

• The aft location tenon is missing.

If this was any other boat or it was a refit with no respect of historical reasons then It would be a lot easer to just source a replacement case.

17.11.2010

Centreboard case cracks routed out and filled with epoxy.  Bit bodgy but should be good strong enough to hold

 Kev