Nina Lucia
Well-Known Member
If none of the off-the-shelf pods suit you, you could also make one in GRP.
I don't have a good photo of just the pods, but in this view of the overall cockpit the panel above the hatch is original and the ones each side with the plotter etc were home-made:
I did take some pictures of the early stages of making them:
Clay plugs being shaped:
High-build primer for a smooth impermeable surface sanded to remove small lumps and undulations:
Blue PVA release agent:
Gelcoat for the inner surface of the mould:
Completed moulds (mat and resin over the green gelcoat, plus a couple of simple hardboard struts to hold the shape), being waxed:
At this point I forgot to take any more pics, but the remaining steps were to paint gelcoat inside the mould, apply glass tissue before it fully set, then mat and resin well rollered down. I then trimmed off the slightly ragged bottom edge of the pod to match the shape of the deck, stuck in a fillet of resin and chopped strands to make a sort of internal flange around the bottom, and once that had set glued it down with sikaflex.
The pods have worked well for the last few years. Some time in the not too distant future we're thinking of replacing the plotter/radar, at which point I'll lay up a replacement pod in the same mould, should only take a couple of hours.
Pete
Fanntastic Pete, what a great job you did! impressive!
That would be one of solutins as well, Thanks so much
All three pods are sitting perfect and your boat looks lovely heave to
Thanks
Ivan
