Kayak Shop21- Bonding hatch channels


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21. Hatches - bonding channels to deck

Click on any image to see the full size version

The last step is to roughen the contact area on the deck and to bond the channel with epoxy putty. If you do this work soon after inside glassing with some of the 'no blush' epoxies you need not sand it. The bond will be OK.

Only 1/16" layer of putty needs to be 'buttered' onto the flange. Since the fit is quite precise, most of it will squeeze out anyway.

Light pressure of spring clamps is all that's necessary to hold everything in place.

A sliver of rubber squeegee is an excellent tool to remove the excess putty and also to imbed some of it into the raw wood edge of the hatch cutout.

The excess putty is now used to seal the edges of the hatch lids as well. When forced into the wood fibers it creates a smooth sandable edge. 180 grit wet sandpaper takes care of the edges without cutting too aggressively.

	Scraping off excess epoxy, below the deck.
	Finished deck inside and out, ready for bonding to the hull. Note the gusset on the right side buttplate. It is much more visible in the large version of this photo.

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