Things are going well and the realist part of me, some would say the pessimistic part, says that things are going too well and something is bound to go wrong about now.

Why should I say this? Well, today’s task was to remove the buoyancy tank in the forward part of the boat and it came out very easily.

That’s several things in a row that have all gone well.

That’s why I‘m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

So, removing the forward buoyancy chamber. As usual cut around the edges, insert crowbar and gently lever the cut section away from the rest. This chamber, although watertight, was only partially filled with the dreaded foam and so, once cut, the top and back came away easily.

After that is was just a case of removing the bits left and then tidying it all up.

So, what’s left before the hull can be turned over and the repair started on the outside?

1. Remove the aft storage chamber.
2. Drill holes in the hull to delineate the new veneers.
3. Clean up the deck beams.
4. Build a frame to hold the upside down hull.

Then turn her over.

That’s going to be three tasks as (2) and (3) will be done as one task.

The keener eyed amongst you will have noticed that there is nothing in the list about applying the veneer to the port side before the turn over. I decided that since I will in all probability have to put a heater under the boat to keep the hull warm enough to be able to use the epoxy, I could also use this to ensure that the port side on the hull was also completely dried out. So the replacement inner veneer will be done once the hull has been put back the right way up.

I’ll probably store the epoxy under the boat as well in the warmer air.

First cut along the starboard side of the chamber.

Then across the top and down the port side.

And then long the bottom.

The cut section practically fell out.

A really easy job this one.

A view of the interior of the hull showing the forward section with the small amount of foam removed.

The foam has stained the paint badly but I don’t think that will matter too much.

Now with the remainder of the chamber that was still attached to the hull removed and cleaned up.

A view of the interior of the hull showing both sides and the front.

A slightly wider view of the interior.