fixing the bow of a mirror dinghy

inside bow locker finished

As promised some more pictures of the bow locker repairs. please note that the runs in this picture are from the origonal work not mine!! You can see the stringer that will support the fore deck and into which I will screw fix the deck. I gave the stringer a liberal coat of west system resin before fitting the deck to act as a glue.

underside of bow deck

the supports under the fore decks  were the originals re used

fore deck fitted prior to fixing

I fixed the deck with stainless steel screws aw 150mm centres to the stringer . These screws will be hidden with the fibreglass tape.

 

Replacing the bow deck of a mirror dinghy

The plywood for the old fore deck was in poor condition so I decided to replace the two decks with new 4mm marine ply decks. I used the old decks as templates and used a jigsaw to cut the new decks, finishing them with a sure form.

New forward decks

I re used the deck braces that were still in good condition and I painted the underside of the decks with primer and International undercoat.

under side of decks primed and ready for undercoat.

Next step fitting the decks and mast steps.

 

fixing a mirror dinghy

I used some oak that I had in the shed to make a new section of gunwhale for the bow. This is now glued into place with West system resin.

New gunwale detail

When the resin went off I drilled and screw fixed the gunwales for additional strength

screwing the gunwales

Be careful when buying brass screws, these are scarce now and most of the screws that you see in the hardware stores are yellow metal and will corrode in salt water. I went to a chandler to get proper brass screws, and I never throw out brass fittings or screws!.