Vira - Sailboat rebuild, Irwin Citation 34

 Interior Galley countertop and cabinets Original countertop consist of two parts, One with sink and food storage locker lid.   Another one covers ice chest and forms first step of companionway stairs. I have made paper template for whole countertop. I added check dimensions to be able to confirm if template is not deformed when i will lay it on new material. Countertop is removed Back side...   Left side is rotted significantly. At any case i am going to replace it. Structural. Back-stay chainplate replacement.  Old chainplate was done from unknown SS bar, and manufactured very poorly. Pin hole was off center and shifted to the edge. thickness is 3/16" So, I am going up size to 1/4" SS 316 . also installing old plate as backer. Hope it will make some difference to better side. Only thing leave me doubts is fact the plate mounted on transom with 4 x 5/16 countersink bolts (mean screw with hut).  When I started to prepare to work I found the difference in ...

  Hull Primed starboard patches and are right under toe rail. For now i can leave it until better temperatures will come. Used Primekote from Interlux. Weather is crazy - 100F+. Have heavy orange peel, but at least covered area from UV. TODO: prime deck near toe rail from deck side, maybe put stanchions back. Windows (ports) Removed one window, checked how to do it.  Process: Take out decorative frame, cut side of the frame, bend it inside and take out. Install template - route the hole. Old window papered 3-5mm wider than new.  so, not so much to grind, mainly grinding the slope back for spigots. Installed "slope plate adding additional 2 degree to make internal wall more vertical. Measured final thickness to buy right screws - #10 1-1/4" Sump box Replaced broken check valve, will put air draining hole later. Standing rigging. Tried to push forestay threaded pin ahead - no success - cut wire again and inserted, but forestay will appear 2 inch shorter :(. Ordered n...

Companionway slides Did dry fit  and temporary installation on slides. Cut front edges at proper angle. need to recover with teak oil.  Looks cool. Mount holes drilled from inside, then metal inserts for M6 bolts installed in wood to screw rails from INSIDE and eliminate additional holes. Next time will install with SS screws. Fixed  window Had to redo fixed window. I one place there was not enough sikaflex.  Learned lesson - put more than enough ;-) then clean excessive sealant.     Stanchions  Before, oak wooden blocks with drilled oversized holes was mounted from inside the hull. then i drilled out 1" diameter holes for stanchions under deck pipes. Drilled the way there only plasick will be in contact with   stanchions. I have marked exact places of screws holding stanchions and drilled out holes 10mm and refill with thickened epoxy. Plan for the future - drill them and put machine screw thread 1/4-20 for 2" screws. 1" holes are drilled...

Water is going lower and lower   Stanchions      Removed all old "empty" stanchion support boxes  All 5 what we did was empty, all old wood rotted out completely. Looks like somebody put thin layer of epoxy covering cracked gelcoat and de-laminated glass around screws under stanchions flanges before 3M 5200. Yes, it was 5200 sit pretty well on deck but absolutely no adhesion to stainless steel. All stanchion, are empty inside - means water which gets onto stanchion pipes went directly to wood. Good deal for maintenance cost in a future.    My dad helping me with this work. Prepared wood blocks to fill the place. Blocks before filling with structural putty. Other story... One of place looks like was repaired filling oversized holes with not-thickened epoxy, and sure do fall out. I dig out all cracks and filled cavity with structural putty. Next time will sand and fair surfaces.   Port side chainplates Eventually. Last 2 chainplates to replace...