Lower Hull Preparation

 Finally, it's time to prepare the lower hull and sides before glassing.

The first job while the boat is upside down is to sand the underside of the rub rails.

 This was no easy task due to my decision to build the rub rails from six laminated strips consisting of red gum hardwood and hoop pine. (see 10/10/2024 "Rub Rails" post)

Time to raise some saw dust and despite being connected to a vacuum I certainly produced a lot of dust.

 After a couple of hours pushing the belt sander and breaking three 80 grit belts I managed to clean up the rub rail undersides.

 

I then spent the next hour sanding off all the epoxy blobs that flowed through some of the joins like stalactites.

I also needed to smooth the hull bottom to keel section in preparation to allow a smooth fillet.

It's been a while but time to mix up some epoxy filler.

Time to fill all the stitch holes and voids.

I used Q‑Cell which is made from hollow glass or ceramic microspheres. When mixed into resin, it:

• Adds bulk without significant added weight.

• Improves workability and flow

• Provides reasonable compressive strength

And most importanly:

• Is easy to sand once cured.

After sanding all the cured stitch holes and voids it was time to lay the large filets joining the keel and lower hull.

As indicated in the construction manual I made a 19mm radius fileting tool.

I started on the starboard side, it was a warm day, so I mixed small amounts and started laying the filets.

Almost half way...

Now the port side.

While waiting for the epoxy filets to cure I made a special sanding tool the same radius as the filets. I used 80 grit sticky back sandpaper over plastic irrigation pipe. should work a treat.