Gluing #1 Hull Strakes & Keel Trunk...

The #1 hull strakes have been glassed and sanded on both sides. It's now time to wire them together, align them and the keel trunk, and then to glue the strakes to each other and to the keel trunk. To make the bottom of the flange at the base of the trunk flush with the bottom of the hull strakes, wood blocks have been hot-glued to the bottom surface of the trunk flange. After the thickened epoxy glue has been applied to the top of the flange on both sides pressure is applied from above to hold the strakes against the blocks and thus flush with the flange.

The port #1 strake is in position on top of the trunk flange.  The starboard strake will be lifted slightly and placed in position next to the port strake.  The tie wires hold the strakes tightly together and screws next to the tie wires hold the assembly down to the building jig.  The strakes are glued together between the tie wires/screws with a thin bead of epoxy.  The tie wires and screws are removed after this glue cures and the remainder of the seam can be glued.

Pressure is being applied with sticks wedged from the ring on the trunk to strips of plywood on top of the strakes to get good glue squeeze out.