Shape the deck, sand the deck. Fill the gaps, let the epoxy dry, sand the deck. Fill more gaps, let the epoxy dry, sand the deck. Fill the now magically-appearing, aiming-to-crush-my-soul gaps, let the epoxy dry, sand the deck. Remember the Tootsie Pop ads?
The answer is 364, although twenty non machine-assisted lickers averaged 252 licks to get to the center.
The question now, dear readers, is how many times can you sand a deck made from 1/4″ thick wood with 80, 120, 150 and 220 grit sandpaper without discovering the other side?
Two coats of epoxy rolled on the glass. Looks like one more will do it.
The fiberglass cloth is fully wetted out. Pretty happy with it.
Pulling the excess glass off before it fully hardens. Look at that perfect edge. The tape-underneath trick really works!
Cut a line through the new glass just above the tape
The stern, wetted out.
Edge detail. The tape is the trim line.
Fully wetted out deck.
The fore deck shining through 4-ounce fiberglass
Wasting some glass over the cockpit.
Trimmed cloth, smoothed out by hand along the bias until it conforms smoothly to the contours of the deck and hull.
Ready for epoxy.
Viking funeral shroud? Ready for the transformation.
There are many like it but this one is mine. My bike is my best friend. I must master it as I must master my life. My bike, without me, is useless. Without my bike, I am useless. I must ride my bike true. I WILL..
My bike and myself know that what counts in this life is not the miles we ride, the order of our finish, nor the prizes we win. We know that it is the ride that counts. WE WILL RIDE…
My bike is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its drivetrain and its brakes. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my bike clean and ready. We will become part of each other. WE WILL…
Adapted from "My Rifle: The Creed of a United States Marine."
42.