Adam F

I was.... But now I'm going wrecking to France... :-)

Erm... Not that I'm superstitious or anything but I can't help that someone is trying to tell me something? Last time I actually tried to cross the channel, the drive coupling failed... Since then I've had 5 dates cancelled this year due to strong winds... When we do finally get a window.... Lightening and biblical flooding threatens! I might stay at home and have a lay in......

If it comes I won't be fishing in it! James and I got caught on the ledge a few years back, it was terrifying!

Just seen 3.5hp.

What size engine is that on it?

Ahhhhh! That's a great price Steve. I've been scouring eBay for one of these but 2.3m... I think this will be too bit for what I want. I just what it for occasional use in Alderney or in Studland with the kids What do you think?

Surprised no one fancies this?

If the weather plays ball, I may have a space on JV for a 2 day wrecking trip to France this Sat and Sun. Post here if you fancy it.

More progress today. One of those days where lots of work completed but hardly anything to actually show for it. Basically the original owner hadn't a clue when it came to skin fittings. Nothing fitted properly and many things had been bodged with plumbing waste fittings and lots of silicone :-( The engine hatch drains leaked like a sieve into the engine room and the main deck hatch drains were set up to drain straight into the bilge.... Just where you want fish guts and dirty water going.... Not! So que a trip to Aquafax and a bag bulging with a fair few £'s worth of new fittings. It was like a sauna laying down in the bilge today... An absolutely horrible job, but now she is fitted properly and all 8 sets of drains and fittings are done properly. It was that bad I had to shower in the marina before Rach would let me back in the car.... And I'm still itching like made from the grp dust :-( glad that's over with! Next job is a new engine hatch lid to be moulded and laminated and the engine box to be cut out and re-glassed in.

Yep, agree with that and it's a fair point.

As much as I disapprove, this isn't illegal? Would it be any different if it was 50 flatfish / cod carcasses? It seems a commercial fisherman has landed a catch of smoothound, headed and gutted them and dumped the rest... Ok so maybe he should have binned them and not dumped it, but smoothounds aren't illegal to catch and sell if you're a commercial are they?

Home from 2 days working up North this evening and couldn't resist having a poke around the mould.... Got a bit carried away, but she popped out easily! Just as I had planned / designed it. I'll check the fit tomorrow and then trim it to size and flow coat the underneath, and gel / grit the top. All it needs then is a few bolts and attention turned to the stainless boarding ladder which will also act as support. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

How far is it by sea to where the blues live?

Finished this evening with last 2 layers. That was more work than I remembered! 114 separate pieces of glass to be laminated... 8 layers deep, and 5kg of resin. It can now cure through well for a week or so whilst I get on with other jobs before I pop it out of the mould, trim it to size and flow coat the underside. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pretty much. I still have a few more layers to do, and then it will get flow coated in grey to give a water tight finish. Last couple of layers go on tonight.

Well done Sam, the effort involved shouldn't be under estimated. Reub only has a passing interest at the moment, but I'll do all I can to get him out and support the day.

If you look you'll see the supports holding the transom section in place. I've made these removable to aid releasing it. But you're right... It's always the most nervey bit!

Yes, what's the dates?

A bit more progress today. Total lay up will be 3 layers of mat, followed by the foam core, and then 7 layers on top of that. After starting the first layers in the week I had to wait for new rollers to arrive as I'd run out. Today I have managed to put on 4 layers inc the core. So a few more layers on Sun and then the lay up will be complete. I'd forgotten how labour intensive this is, making the mould to completing the lay up! Still it's the only way to get a quality finish. I'll then leave it a few days to really cure well, before attempting to pop it from the mould later in the week. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Yes that's JV out too. Never known a year like it for windy conditions on the neap tides. I won't be bothering with Alderney agin this year and will turn attentions to other stuff, shame but what can you do. That ramps the pressure up to make sure she is ready again for next May after the rebuild!

Once the gel is on you can start to apply the fibreglass and resin. At this stage it's worth pointing out that getting organised beforehand saves a huge amount of hassle once you start this job! Trying to cut glass and pick things up once you have gloves covered in resin isn't the best idea! A tip I picked up from Pete is to mount the roll of glass on a pole it makes it easier to dispense the roll and manage cutting. So you want to cut all the pieces you need before you start. I try not to make them too big so they are manageable. The basic tools and process here is as follows. Fluffy mini roller, cheap 2" brush, disposable tub, sheet of MDF / ply for wetting out the mat. Polyester resin and 300gm chopped strand mat (CSM) So mix up the resin. Decent coat into the mould to act as a 'glue' for the sheet of glass. Pop your glass on the wetting table and give it a decent coat of resin. Pop it into the mould, roller it flat, saturate with resin and consolidate. That's the short version. In practise for anyone wanting to try this, it's easier to be shown / talked through. Once the resin has saturated the mat the emulsion holding the fibres together release and the whole lot becomes 3 dimensional... It's fantastic stuff! The aim is to get a smooth finish without any air bubbles. The final pic shows the first layer in place, and I'm done for tonight! I'll get another layer on tomorrow and then the foam core to add strength. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Next its time to start laying up the mould. The first two coats are gel coat catalysed at 2% by volume. It's key not to mix up too much especially in warm temperatures as the mix will 'kick' faster. I've been doing a pint at a time, with 8ml of catalyst and that's been giving around 10-15 mins work time. Once the resin or gel starts to kick its useless and you need to clean down and mix another batch. Anyway, so mix the gel, get this first two layers on with a brush, this gives a nice thick coat. Take care to get it on evenly and not to be light anywhere. Remember this is the final finish that you're applying and will determine the finish of the mould. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Ok, for those of you who wanted to see how to laminate fibreglass: You've seen the mould and the details around that so here's the next few steps. This next pic shows the fillets in place all around and the next step which is starting to wax the mould. The wax is basically a contaminative layer between the MDF and the gel coat. Without it the lay up wouldn't release from the mould. I went for 5 coats of wax, polished up once dry to give a nice sheen and a good protective layer. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

So is it a species hunt or a flatfish comp on the 20th? And what format will the 48hr follow?

Clearly it's a 2 day comp where you try to catch the best specimen of the flatfish species? We know they are trying to mix the format up to attract new people! :-)