Epoxy/varnish CB case prior to install

[Dmksails]

I've been going thru the excellent blog posted by Brent (IdahoPocketship) and I am planning to follow his ideas for the build. In his blog he shows the centerboard case is finished except for a space on the bottom that will get Fiber glassed to the keel/hull. I'm not sure how you would do this step. My assumption is that prior to doing the fiberglass you would tape off the upper section just below the existing varnish. Then after the glassing, apply epoxy and varnish over that union. Does this make sense, or did I miss something?

[dbeck]

You are asking the surfaces of the centerboard that will be visible inside the cabin?

I would not paint/varnish those surfaces at an early stage of the build as you intend to do. It will be more work to protect those surfaces and correct mishaps than painting/varnishing later. Basically, this are just two flat and easy surfaces.

In our build those surfaces were painted after the filleting/glassing at the bulkheads 2..7 was done, together with the rest of the cabin interior below the cockpit deck, prior to the final installation of the floorboards.

If you like to varnish: The glassing/filleting of bulkheads 4..7 to the floor panels basically happens below the floorboards. As the floorboards are quite thick, it will not be difficult to hide the transition between the varnished surface and the bilge paint. To protect the surfaces from stuff penetrating into the wood, you could epoxy the 'visible' surfaces of the centerboard early in the build.

Dietrich