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Ok, I have some progress to report. I HAVE A DECK!!!! Can't express how happy I am that I have a secured deck to the boat. I filled the compartments outside of the ski locker area with closed cell foam. I attached cleats to the stringers with quick grab PL glue that's 8X stronger. I liked it so much I decided to use the PL glue to attach the stringers to the deck. I also used 2.5 inch SS screws to attack deck to cleats. with some regular PL glue on top of the cleats. Hey, I have it laying around, so why not use it right!! I drew lines on the deck to know where the cleats were located for my screws. I put 1 more layer of foam right before I laid the deck down over the PL glue for more adhesion. Coated the SS screws with 5200 and secured the deck down. I had to screw into the stringers once of each stringer in the aft because the extra glass I put at the transom/stringer location, there was a gap. That went against my plan to not compromise the stringer fiberglass integrity, but had no choice. I put liberal amounts of 3M 5200 around that area.
I then proceed to cut pieces of foam 1/4" and put around the deck perimeter so the deck didn't contact the hull. I made up some PB resin and went around the boat securing the deck to hull joint. At this point I needed to decide on the deck coverings. Either tab the deck with 1708 and CSM, or 1708 entire deck and CSM over that. I decided to use the glass I had, thus not wasting much. So I put down 1708 over the entire deck and into the hull for my tabbing. I have some hull sections I couldn't reach, and I have some more left over for more, stronger tabbing in some places I will put down next. The entire deck took about 1 gallon of resin. I will put down 1 layer of CSM next and it will be ready for paint.
I have to report that I have excellent adhesion on the underside of my deck. I cut the ski locker out and inspected the glass. It's solid. I didn't wait for the thompsons waterseal to dry before I put down resin to coat. I'm thinking that was my saving grace.
I also took some time to attach my bellows and install my bell housing onto the gimbal ring. I fought with those bellows for hours. That's a job I really disliked. I'm still not sure I did it correctly, but I got them all on and clamped down. After putting bellows adhesive on both sides and waiting 10 or more min, it was so difficult to move them over the flanges. It grabbed instantly. I did get them all clamped down well, but I'm not sure if the main drive bellows is 100% seated in the groves at the transom side. I put the bellows on the bell housing side first since I had better access (perceived) to the clamps. I did attach the new shift cable and shift cable bellows to the transom before. So the main bellows and exhaust bellows were the ones I struggled with. I think its secured down well, but I will have to float it to be 100% sure.
So here is my question:
- I have totalboat non-skid paint
Should I gelcoat the deck and up the sides, or just paint the deck and sides with the non-skid. Will they provide the same amount of protection? Should I use wax in the final CSM layer? Wondering if that would cause problems for the paint. Or use the wax and then wipe the deck down liberally with M.E.K or Acetone to remove the wax. I really need some advice on this.
