Tabernacle Question & Cockpit Paint...

[aschilpp]

So here's a quick question... would it be acceptable to shorten the height of the tabernacle by 3-5" and permanently epoxy it in place, or leave it the originally designed height and make it removable with extra bolts?

And another question... what is a good type of paint to use in the cockpit? Would an anti-slip additive be useful?

Any opinions are welcome... except the wrong ones of course.

[decurtis]

The manual instructions have the tabernacle epoxied in place but do give the option of making it removable with more and larger bolts. It is also suggested that the tabernacle could be made of thicker lumber. I used the removable option but will probably epoxy it place since with the portable garage I just assembled I no longer have to worry about Pocketship's height. I used leftover ribboned Tiama 3/4" plywood from the sheet I used for the stern since I had to purchase a full sheet. From my research plywood should be stronger than the equivalent thickness of lumber because the layers are arranged at right angles to each other. I don't know if shortening the tabernacle would have any implications for the overall design of Pocketship.

I used anti-slip paint on the floor of the cockpit and foredecks on my Pocketship. The positive side is that it certainly feels less slippery particularly when walking forward on the foredecks to the anchor well to raise the mast etc. The negative is that the rough anti-slip surface holds dirt a lot more and is harder to clean.