When we poured the lead into the structural steel fin of the keel the heat from the lead distorted the 5 mm steel plate forming vertical ridges between the internal vertical steel structure. This week the fabricator let us use his paint shop to bog and fair the keel in preparation for shipping to the dock. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we added epoxy bog of different thickness to the hollows and today I completed the sanding and applied two coats of Interprotect. Next Tuesday we will turn the keel over and do the other side. Back on the hull I have finished the seat in the V berth ante room which will be the home for the hot water system. The cross frame that forms the front of the seat is bogged to the hull and fastened with cleats to the hanging locker and the mast support frame. It is all painted except for the base for the water heater which needs another coat so now I can complete the floor in this area. The other hanging locker on the quarter berth ante room had been grouted to the hull too. Because the bottom of the front of the locker lands on a stringer there was not a large filleting area so I glassed over the fillet to make it stronger. There is still a little return to do at the top to form a tiny shelf for items you want close at hand.
I have decided to swing the head door out the same way it does on our Jeanneau SO37 Passion. This means a small adjustment to the top of the door and a small repair to the top of the door frame. I have done a trial hang of the door so i know the top is going to work OK. What I do not know is if the bottom edge of the door will clear the engine cover and kitchen. The door is quite a bit wider than on Passion so there is scope for narrowing it up in the lower section below the kitchen bench height so it is still a work in progress.
The keel of our Didi 40 Cr filled and faired on the starboard side.
The first of two coats of Interprotect over the epoxy bog on the keel of our Didi 40 Cr
The delta bulb on our Didi 40 Cr has a tonne of lead inside the steel former. The bulb is particularly fair and needed no filler.