Recent content by dougd

  1. dougd

    Sunfish top mast cap replacement installation question

    Thanks, rivets + sealant worked well!
  2. dougd

    Sunfish top mast cap replacement installation question

    I was checking the rigging and while lowering the sail the mast cap pulled right out of the mast! It was missing a pin, and had a very loose fit. I ordered the replacement but not sure about the correct way to attach it. The new cap does not have pre-drilled holes. The mast has two sets of...
  3. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    The two leaks are interesting cases. The first was in the spot where I originally had difficulty splitting the deck. Upon closer inspection, the new seam was holding - but there was a secondary split about an inch long above it, very near the surface. The repair also has a change in...
  4. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    Leak test failed! Two port side leaks in the new seam. It's also possible that I blew too much air in. Lesson learned. On the bright side I didn't find any other topside leaks.
  5. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    That was an adventure! New bow handle is on and deck is re-attached. Next up is the leak test.
  6. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    @shorefun thanks, I think I settled on painting the surface white(ish) after reading that gelcoat is both difficult for novices and not recommended over epoxy repairs. I was first going to sand it back down to slightly below the gelcoat line level and then use low density 407 to fair it...
  7. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    I got lost.
  8. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    So, I made it down to Ace hardware and picked up some glass (Evercoat Sea Glass Fiberglass Cloth and Evercoat Sea-Glass Fiberglass Mat ). I also bought some West System epoxy 105 resin and 206 hardener. I did my best to interpret the advice given here (many thanks) and the bow is more or less...
  9. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    Sorry - didn't mean to go dark! Work and family calls. I plan on hitting up Ace hardware this weekend and getting started.
  10. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    On the cloth/mat suggestion, I am reading that epoxy doesn't play well with csm on curved surfaces. Should I be using poly resin or a combination of poly and epoxy in different locations? I had sold myself on epoxy because of the reported superior strength and bonding. So, where to find a...
  11. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    The "snake skin" looks and feels deliberate. Possibly some kind of handle, maybe from the original manufacturing process?
  12. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    I found a local hardware store just down the way that is a West System dealer according to their website. I'll head over tomorrow and see what that have.
  13. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    It seems like I'll need much more than what comes in the West System repair kit. What's a good place to buy these supplies (epoxy, resin, fiberglass, etc.)? No marine stores nearby.
  14. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    Well, we're in it now! I split the deck. Starboard side went great, port side not so much. It started splitting too high, into the deck layer. I had to saw down a bit to correct. Very damp inside. The yellow foam is saturated.
  15. dougd

    Shark bite in bow...help!

    The trim is off. Seam looked OK except for one spot port side up near the bow handle. Looked to be a small split that I could press closed with finger pressure. I also snapped some pictures through the bow hole of the interior. The bow handle backing block looks metal to me. Is that expected?

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