In the late afternoon session, I got straight to laying out the installation of the bilge thru hull - deciding to place on the transom, at the centerline. I applied a layer of tape to protect the surrounding surfaces while drilling out the location, and then climbed aboard to ensure the interior was free of obstacles that could prove problematic to the installation. Happy with the location, I attached a small bit to first drill a pilot hole, and then followed that up with 7/8" hole saw. Drilling holes in boats is a necessary task, but it always feels wrong!

I removed the tape and cleaned the surfaces with a good acetone wipe. I grabbed my thru hull wrench (a special and needlessly expensive tool), a pair of locking vice grips, and some SikaFlex. I sanded the interior rim surface of the thru hull component to create a bit of tooth and then cleaned it off with acetone. With tools and materials prepped, I applied a very generous amount of SitkaFlex to the interior rim, or flange, of the thru hull, and then pushed it into place. Happy with good squeeze out, I climbed aboard with the locking nut, to be threaded onto the interior portion of the thru hull, and the vice grips. I reached through the cockpit's aft bulkhead access and carefully threaded the locking nut to hand-tight. I then applied the locking vice grips to the nut through feel only - after fiddling with this for a couple minutes. With the locking nut hand-tight and the vice grips securing it, I stepped back down and applied the thru hull wrench to tighten the assembly. I finished the installation off with cleaning up the squeeze out with acetone. The bilge hose was purchased the night before and will be attached in the coming days.

My next task was to complete the trimming of the remaining bungs on the companionway trim. As I had done in previous work, I used a small Japanese saw along with a length of tape folded onto itself to protect the surrounding wood, and carefully removed 90% of the portion of the bung standing proud. I finished by hand-sanding from 60 to 320-grit paper. With all bungs removed and now sitting fair with their respective trim piece, I moved to the shop and sanded the interior hatch boards requiring another coat of paint, as well as the companionway slide hatch trim recently fabricated. I wiped all surfaces down - including those on Biscuit.

I decided to varnish first, starting with the companionway slide hatch trim that was set up in the varnish room, and then moved to the trim on Biscuit. Then trim, as well as all of the brightwork on Biscuit, will require another couple coats to complete. My final task was to get the second coat of finish paint on the interior hatch boards. This painting went without any issue, and appearances moved me to believe this was the final coat. Finally, all new hardware has been receive through various chandleries, and over the next couple weeks I will make their installation priority to bring Biscuit to completion.

Total Hrs: 2