Sailing Uma · video

What this video covers

To seal the V-berth hatch on the sailboat Uma, the crew uses a plywood template and fiberglass to patch the cabin top.1:14 After struggling with wind and heat during previous attempts, the team secures a 4mm plywood backing from underneath using screws to ensure a tight fit against the hull’s compound curves.7:55 They apply multiple layers of chop strand mat and resin from the outside to fill the gap, using plastic sheeting to create a smooth finish.4:20 The crew notes that the resin remains tacky under the plastic until fully cured, but the resulting contour matches the deck profile, requiring only minor fairing.3:36 By sealing the V-berth hatch, the deck is now fully watertight.19:13 Future work includes adding balsa core to the cabin sides and glassing the underside of the deck to increase structural stiffness.17:39 The crew plans to delay cutting new holes for hatches until they have the replacement units on hand.18:57

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