After some sensible advice from Steve, I am recommending
to Simon that, for the stern area, we go for a 4x4 grid which provides support
for all sides and ends of the plywood sheets. If there is movement / bounce /
sag it risks damaging the waterproof roofing felt which will go on top of it
all. For the sake of some extra 4x4 timber, we can avoid this.
So first we coat
the deck in bitumen. Then we build the grid (4x4 in red), making sure that the
plywood panels will fit fore/aft snugly against the salon wall and then
half-way across the first lateral joist and laterally half way across the
middle fore/aft joist and so on. Lap joints where joists cross and half-laps
when we need to extend a length. Both glued and screwed. Are you following
this?
We will get all the lengths and the joints cut beforehand and have the
deck and step marked out. The plywood panels and the insulation panels will
also be cut to shape before the actual building starts, including all the
odd-shaped bits.
With everything prepared and ready, we can
choose a dry day which hopefully will fit in with the roofers so that the whole
job can be finished and the stern deck watertight before any rain arrives. It
would be nice to lay the grid onto the bitumen while it is still tacky, but that
might be very messy! When the insulation panels go in, we have a can of
insulating foam on hand to seal any small gaps.
Next come the whole
and nearly whole boards of plywood, which will be screwed down on all edges either
to the 4x4, or to the gunwale step (dark grey). And we finish with the small
bits at the stern and at the sides. Gutter sealant or something similar will be
applied between the boards and also between the boards and the gunwale and the
salon.
The finished, well half finished product will look something like this (Photoshop can only do so much!) .....
Send for the roofers.
Then comes the
bow area, following the same sort of procedure. Once the bow and stern are
decked and watertight, any rain will run off down the ‘sidewalks’ and out of
the drain holes. (I am sure there are proper nautical terms for both of those).
Finally we do the sidewalks and “t’ job’s a good un” as they say.
That’s the plan
anyway. Any helpful suggestions would be
welcome.
David
No comments:
Post a Comment