Wedging

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Fitting the new boat out goes forward. It takes a lot of time and thinking to get everything right, even though I have passed the initial hesitation to drill in the shiny new boat. Mainly it is just about puttings blocks and cam cleats at the right place. However, at times you need something to wedge the fittings to get the to properly line up.

A long time ago I learned a quick and still good way of doing wedges. In principle you take a blob of glassfibre putty and let it cure wedged in between the fitting and the boat Mixing the glassfibre bog
In order not to have it stick to either of the two sides, one only tape it up with some packing tape – a tape that is very thin and releases the wedge once cured. …so just tape both the boat and the fitting (usually a block). Tape the block Tape on boat
Once that is in place, mix the putty and apply it to the right place. Line the fitting up and if it is a block, it usually is simpler by running a rope through it to whatever it is supposed to be connected to. Apply bog on boat Apply block
Once it is cured, just take the wedge off. Even though it is cured, it is quite easy to file and sand down to its final dimensions and the print of the fitting makes it easy to see what the overall dimensions should be. Unfinished wedge
Be careful when getting closer to its final shape as it is far from optimal ending up with an undersized wedge. It is far better and prettier having a wedge that is a little bit too bit than the other way around. Finished shape
The final touch is to paint the whole thing with gelcoat or gelcoat putty. Not only becomes the wedge pretty much a part of the hull, it also makes the somewhat porous surface and bit more resistent. Good luck with the wedging! Gelcoating the wedge

 

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