a peek under the bunk flat

Cool, gray and rainy outside.  But warm enough in the garage to get one more coat, after a sanding with 220 grit sandpaper, on the mast.  That makes six coats.  I'll do at least one, maybe two more with a sanding before each coat.

I finally got around to taking a look at the space beneath the bunk flat using a camera and a strobe.  Above is looking on the port side forward through frame number three (foreground) towards frame two.  The strobe is over on the starboard side with the light coming through the ventilation holes in the spine at the right.
Below is the starboard side, looking again from frame three to frame two.

This area, beneath the bunk flat, has very little access.  I've always worried about moisture build-up and mildew.  There are "water tight" deck plates on the thwart and bunk flat.  But even with the o-ring seals some water - not much - seems to find its way down below the deck.  Particularly on cruises, with being out on the water in the rain or spray for a few days at a time, a couple of tablespoons of water (or more) will be down there.  Under the thwarts it is easy enough to sponge out.  But I've always worried about up forward in the areas I can't reach.

From looking at the photographs things seem to be in pretty good shape.  Much of this is due to John's design.  He drew in holes in all the frames and spine for excellent air circulation.  Plus after all cruises, and sometimes after just a day sail, I put an eight in diameter fan face down in the deck plate opening and force air through this space for an hour or so.  That seems to be working pretty well.

steve