Another Coot

[james gilchrist]

Hi All,

I started my coot build at the same time as Graham but am running several years behind.  I have a long list of excuses.  Anyhow, I have completed planking and am about to put some primer and undercoat on before turning her over.  I am not going to coat in epoxy.  But I am not sure what to do with the centreboard slot.  One guy told me to epoxy this with some fiberglass tape, where as someone else said don't bother.  I have a good seal between hog and keel.

What do people think?

Cheers

James

[Chris Waite]

James,

I usually go for belt, braces, waterproofs, bicycle clips, thigh boots and waders, (for anything).  It is a real pain if the centreboard does decide to leak and it's for ever...

I'd go for the goo and epoxy some glass tape over the seams

Chris W

[Port-Na-Storm]

Hi James,

Thought I'd give others a chance to chip in.

I presume you haven't fitted the centreboard case yet?

If not then I don't see much point in taping round the slot until it goes in.

Chris is right is saying you can never be too careful, although I must admit I just bedded it down in enough gloop to hold a carrier in place.  



What you can't see in the picture is the blanking piece I made to fit inside the slot, just a long bit of wood the right size covered in parcel tape to stop it sticking, it was held so that the case sat right over it in the right place and couldn't move around. Once the epoxy has gone off stick a batten down the slot and give it a good whack to knock it out.  

I did line the inside of the case with some biaxial cloth I had lying around and if I was doing it again I might run some tape round the inside join between the case and keelson.  The trick is to get a good join without leaving a rough surface to chew the board up.
 
There is an external  brass rubbing strip along the keel and on either side of the case to protect it from beaches and trailers.

Cheers,
Graham