S U P E R S P O R T
17
If everything looks good, start clamping the bottom
sheeting.
Bulkheads 3, 4 and 5 should have weight over them.
Also put weight over the engine rail and shaft
support, to help hold it against the sheeting.
Be sure to only place weights over a bulkhead or
engine rail. If you don’t, the weight may cause the
bottom to sag.
Check the bottom with a straightedge. It MUST
be flat from bulkhead 3 aft.
After the glue fully cures (at least 2 hours), remove
the weight and clamps. Check for any glue that may
have squeezed onto the keel. Use a sharp knife to
scrape any away.
Take your time on the next step, it’s important.
Test fit the other bottom sheet, and make any
adjustments before you glue.
Make sure that both bottom sheets meet as
perfectly as possible.
Take your time here. Start from the rear. Put the
sheet in place, and note any areas that touch,
keeping the sheeting from meeting perfectly. Use
your block with 80 to sand these “high” spots.
Move forward and sand, fit, sand, fit, until it fits
perfectly. Be sure to sand a progressively sharper
bevel, so that the bottom sheets fit tightly together.
The goal is to have a nice, tight joint that is straight.
Try to keep the gap to less than 1/16 inch.
Glue the other side of the bottom sheeting on the
same way as the first, only this time you can’t use
as many clamps.
Put weights on it, and set aside.
Make sure that the bottom sheet is in contact all the
way around. Clamp the nose.
You can also tack glue the bottom sheets together
at this time. Put a drop of medium CA about every
two inches or so, check that the bottom sheets are
properly aligned, and hit the drop with a shot of
accelerator.
Check the bottom with a straightedge. It MUST
be flat from 3 aft.
