Finally the hull is dry - It's Epoxy time

When I have started this project (september '17) I thought i was going to be sailing in March.
well...that was not the case. it's been raining a lot during spring and the heat only showed up in June.

But finally the hygrometer gave us the OK and we started the "osmosis treatment".

First all the tiny blisters had to be filled with epoxy and this took a lot of time because everytime I thought I had finished i eventually spotted out others to fill.

Since the hull was all taken down to naked fiberglass we thought it was a good chance to make some reinforcements to the keel with fiberglass and polyester resin.

then the first coating of epoxy resin (veneziani aqua stop)

After it was time for epoxy primer:

 

Of all works this is the only I have decided to pay a pro to do it together with me.Although it looked pretty straightforward and easy, I have to say it was well worth the effort (money) because of the next treatment which is some sort of epoxy putty which I don't think is easily accessible to a private but most of all because the skill that you need to lay it and then to sand it is not something that I am usually good at. the hull was already bumpy and uneven from previous sandings (i think the previous owners worked on it in 1999). with this treatment the hull is perfectly round and smooth... totally love it.

 

 

Now the 4th coat of epoxy (again veneziani aquastop)

Then the 5th (and last) coating with epoxy primer:

 

Also the rudder as gone through the same epoxy process after being filled with epoxy and reinforced with fiberglass

 

Now the boat is ready for the first layer of antifoul (boat had to be lifted in order to do the epoxy treatment under the boat tray).

Mast and engine are UP!

So, after so long the mast is going up again and the engine is also going onboard.

It took about 2 hours and the help of a crane.

New rigging, vhf antenna and windex

So, few days before stepping the mast I had to place all the new rigging (stays and ropes) plus the new antenna (vhf) and the vindex. Also I have installed a new shackle for the boom topping lift oversized as it will be also used to lift the engine during the shaft alignment works.
Also the new stainless steel tabernacle has been placed and the wooden step prepared.

 

Bilge Paint

It was about time to refresh the bilge.

It is now dry and i have applied a layer of epoxy resin both under the shaft box and on the bilge floor.

I have chose to use white epoxy to get more brightness. we'll see if in the future I'll go back to grey bilge paint as i guess the white one will get dirty very easily.