Boomkin Details

We’ve been focused on the bowsprit and the boomkin lately, since those are the last critical components of the rig. Jeremy wanted to epoxy fill all fastener holes and then redrill them, plus do a really good job prepping the pieces for new paint.

The boomkin is the kind of triangle that goes off the back of the boat, where the backstay attaches. It’s also where the Monitor’s arms used to be supported; since we’re switching to a different wind vane, we’re filling all those old holes permanently.

Boomkin pieces, some holes filled already.

Part of the exercise with filling all old fastener holes is to try to make them less susceptible to water intrusion. Though we bed each fastener with some kind of sealant, which hopefully keeps the water out, invariably that sealant has the chance to fail. If water gets down along the fastener, it can rot the wood out.

Jeremy drilled each hole larger and filled it with thickened epoxy. That way when he redrills for the fasteners, there will be a solid sleeve of epoxy forming the “walls” of where the fastener goes through the wood. Even if water gets in, it can’t get to the wood.

Sunday’s exercise was to dry fit the boomkin off of the transom and then correctly drill the fastener holes for the bronze connecting plates.

Drilling holes for the fasteners. Upside down. On a ladder.

Meanwhile, I was cleaning up the old fasteners. Some of these were easier to clean than others! People have asked why we clean these fasteners instead of buying new ones. Since they are in perfectly fine shape, and each one would cost close to $10 to replace, and the 10 bolts shown here represent probably 5% of the similar fasteners on the boat . . . yes, I get out the acetone and wire brush and spend some time cleaning them. (And no, no “after” photo. You’ll just have to imagine shiny clean bolts.)

All those bolts on the right? They’re now shiny and clean. Whew.

There’s still more work to do, of course. Epoxy work to glue on the support pieces, opening up some last paint cracks and sanding it all smooth. Then it’ll be time to put 2 or 3 coats of primer on, followed by 2 or 3 coats of paint. We’re going with a 2-part Interlux product called Perfection. Each coat needs a good 8 hours to dry before it can be sanded, and there are 2 sides to the pieces . . . that’s a lot of days just to get the paint done. At least painting is not an all day project!