Almost ready for splashdown...

[tnltracy]

Spent several more hours on the V this weekend getting it ready for splashdown. I bought my V in the water last year, and literally never saw the bottom of it until this winter in dry storage, so while it ran well, and we fished a bunch, I really didn't know what I had...

This weekend's projects included re-installing both rod boxes, and all teak after treating it all to a nice sanding, cleaning and sealing with Sikkens Natural (great stuff!).

All new cleats installed on the bow (used 5200 unlike PO), new side cleats, and began repair of the swim platform bracket.

It seems the swim platform was installed with basic steel bracket that is now just a hunk of rust. So haveing a new one fabricated by the shop at my marina.

Re-installed all canvas, and re-adjusted as best I can. It's gotten real tight from a few years of shrinkage. Don't think it's ever been treated, but that will happen soon.

Got the bilge hatch properly attached in the splashwell, along with new seals where they were missing.

Replaced the scuppers on thru hulls from splashwell. It appears that a PO put new thru hulls in at some point. They stick out about 3/8 inch on the outside, which is why the old scuppers didn't close properly. I got creative, and re-installed the old scupper mounts to create a spacer that worked almost perfectly. New scuppers close great, and hopefully will make for a slightly less wet splashwell this year.

Lastly, added a new brace across the bow as the original is pretty rotted (see note re 5200 above). This is an area I still need to spend some time. It's good and solid from the hatch opening to the windshield, but still soft and sags a bit in the very front area. I think I may need to fashion another brace running across another 18" or so in front of the existing brace.

Pictures will follow as soon as I get them off the camera.

all good fun. Aching a bit from all the work, but it's a good feeling to have gotten all this done.

Question for those of you with more experience re the scuppers. I used 3M 4000 (4200 with UV protect as far as I can tell) to seal around them. Should I put a coat of 5200 over this as well, or will 4000 hold up where these actually sit below the waterline??