Reluctant demolition

This all started with freshening up Ms. Bettencourt's dinged up and dirty dashboard and middle cabin. Then things got out of hand. I had not fully realized the fact that painting the interior of a boat requires removal of countless attachments --latches and brackets, fire extinguishers, bench hatch covers, removable bulkheads, doors and door frames, storage locker doors, switches, gauges, instruments and on and on.

Then there was the rot in the bottom of the little compartment under the dashboard. And now, as the photo at right illustrates, you can see right through that area.






Further pre-paint work led to the inescapable conclusion that no amount of pigment will help the plywood bulkhead separating the steering position and the head. It is badly de-laminated and looks terrible. Just ripping it out is not an option, since there is a major wiring chase and a lot of plumbing on the other side.

The not-so-simple fix for this will be application of a 3/16-inch veneer panel over the whole area. The new panel will dress up the old bulkhead and should strengthen the structure. But, to make it happen, a lot of other stuff will have to be moved, including the shore power distribution box.

Making a pattern, cutting, fitting and fastening that veneer panel will present some interesting challenges.

Meanwhile, the cockpit looks like the aftermath of a burglary.

And, of course. there is a patina of sanding dust fore and aft, all over everything.

Many boats are moving up and down the river.

Ms. Bettencourt has not been out of her slip since June 11.

We need to be on the water.


My friend Major and I talked this week about going down the river and over to Beaufort, SC, after this job is done.

I don't plan to rush the work, but my motivation level is increasing rapidly.