Nida-Core Electrical Box (E-Box) Project

[Night_Sailor]

Unfortunately, I lost of few of the hard top images I took. I've tabbed together the major pieces. The four corners are complex curves I scrapped my first attempt as it didn't fit well with the hardtop frame. I had some balsa core and decided to use that on two of the corners to see how it looked before doing the other side.

Using a variety of supports I glassed in the bottom side. Today I pulled out the grinder and smoothed out boat sides. The follow pictures show the top side ready for some filler and then fiberglass.


The corners will be rounded off, so I have to cut away some of the excess material. It's raining now, so I can't test fit it. Perhaps I'll make a template and cut from that, as I'd like to glass both these corners today.



In the mean time, my new chartplotter/fishfinder came in. I have one of the first of these RayMarine eS78's. I have a piece of 1/2" mahogany marine plywood that I'll use to flush mount this. I'm gluing the backing and cutting the plywood next.


Soon, I'll be painting. Nothing but paint in the following picture.

[Night_Sailor]

Still working on the hardtop Two corners to go. I'm starting to wish I took the trouble to make a form. Oh well, I'm on the home stretch. I used balsa core on the last back two corners and since I ran out I switched to pieces of Nida-Core cut small to conform to the curves.



On another front, 12 hours of sanding has yielded on dead sander and about 1/2 of the bottom sanded clear. At least four layers of bottom paint have to be sanded and it is difficult around the strakes.



I plan to move it to my brothers house, where my excavator is located to lift it off the trailer, or perhaps slide it back for better access.



Meanwhile I've been working on the flush mount panel on the E-Box. After cutting the lawn I may go work on that some more. It's cooler in the shop. Outside temps have been high lately and will continue over the weekend.

Somewhere I have a picture of the E-Box...that's not it. Wonder what happened to it.