The next stage of the front deck is to complete the lockers and make the cutouts for the hatches. A template is made for each hatch size which makes positioning, marking and cutting much easier. A timber frame is fitted for the hatch cover. This stiffens the deck and provides good cover fixing.
The anchor chain locker needs special care. The inside of the locker is sheathed in fibreglass. The chain will drop past the front of the structural beam and so the beam is covered in spare Kevlar cloth to ensure that the chain does not damage the beam. To provide extra support to the anchor windlass the deck cover is strengthened with and additional layer of 18mm plywood. The lockers are painted out with white locker paint and an additional layer of rubber matting is fixed in the anchor locker to reduce noise and prevent the chain abrading the inside of the locker.
The locker covers are permanently fixed in place and the hatches and windlass are loose fitted to check for fit and to show how the finished deck will look.
Once completed, the hatches and windlass are removed and stored and temporary plywood covers are screwed over the hatch cutouts. This will allow safe working on the cabin front and roof.
The anchor chain locker needs special care. The inside of the locker is sheathed in fibreglass. The chain will drop past the front of the structural beam and so the beam is covered in spare Kevlar cloth to ensure that the chain does not damage the beam. To provide extra support to the anchor windlass the deck cover is strengthened with and additional layer of 18mm plywood. The lockers are painted out with white locker paint and an additional layer of rubber matting is fixed in the anchor locker to reduce noise and prevent the chain abrading the inside of the locker.
The locker covers are permanently fixed in place and the hatches and windlass are loose fitted to check for fit and to show how the finished deck will look.
Once completed, the hatches and windlass are removed and stored and temporary plywood covers are screwed over the hatch cutouts. This will allow safe working on the cabin front and roof.