I managed to complete the installation of the exterior brightwork components today, leaving just a few interior fiddles for the v-berth and the quarter berths. Today's focus was the installation of the companionway slide hatch trim and the cockpit seat trim, but prior to starting on these components I needed to complete the slide hatch itself, I preferred to not have the slide hatch skidding across the top of the coachroof finish paint, and so to prevent this I decided to install a couple felt strips on each side the companionway hatch fins - the tabs that are captured by the companionway hatch trim to keep the hatch from being removed or flying off the boat while beating into the wind, or other such heading. I flipped the companionway hatch over after measuring and cutting four 4-inch length of a cream-colored felt pad, and then with a razor blade removed the adhesive portion of the felt strip. After measuring and finding the location of the soon to be installed felt strips, I removed the paint down to bare glass in those four areas. I vacuumed and acetone wiped the surfaces, and then applied neat epoxy to the hatch surface. I then buttered the felt strips with some fast-setting thickened epoxy, and finally placed the strips into position. With the epoxy curing, I headed back to Biscuit for the brightwork installations.

I started with the cockpit seat trim, holding the starboard trim in position and noodling through the number of fasteners (6) and where to locate them. I decided a cardboard template would be handy in this process, rather than risking damage to the finish paint with the trim component, so I took one the trim boards and used its dimensions to create a template out of stiff cardboard. This proved a wise choice and allowed me to dial in the location of the fasteners without risk of damage to the Biscuit's seating. With the number and location of the fasteners determined, I transferred them to the trim pieces and used a bit to drill through each location to hold a #10-24 machine screw. I then placed the seat trim in position and with a small bit made a mark on the molded fiberglass seat - the inboard vertical face. With the mark made, I used the same small bit to punch a hole through the fiberglass, followed by the bit sized to pre-drill for tapping a #10-24 machine screw. After tapping for threads, I mounted the seat trim with this one screw. I then placed the trim in its final position on the molded fiberglass seat and repeated markings with the small bit through the fastener holes already drilled through the trim. I repeated the drilling and tapping for the #10-24 machine screws, and one by one secured the machine screws, secured with washers and nylon locking nuts. Six screws later, the starboard cockpit seat trim was mounted. I then followed this process for the port side trim, completing the cockpit seat trim installation.

I headed back to the shop to retrieve the companionway slide hatch, the epoxy being cured enough to handle and place the hatch onto the coachroof. With the hatch in place, and the fastener holes already drilled and tapped from a previous work session, I applied SikaFlex 291-lot to the raised fiberglass where the trim is installed and then secured the trim with #10-24 machine screws. These fasteners are countersunk and will be covered with bungs - to come.

With the brightwork exterior components installed, I turned to readying Biscuit to be repositioned back over to the shop. I adjusted the trailer pads for sturdy contact and then utilized some moving blankets and strapped Biscuit to the trailer. I removed blocking and backed the truck in to attach the trailer. Shortly thereafter, Biscuit was back at the shop to complete bung and varnish work as well as hardware installation. Nearly there!

Total Hrs: 4.75