The work in the cockpit has taken a pause on account of the weather, I have been working inside where heat is easier to apply to the work area. My work shop is filled with epoxy type work and some of my projects are in the garage. I took the binnacle off Great Ketch and hung it from the beams in the garage. Note how it is suspended so that I need not require hunching over the project.Objective: Clean the binnacle, remove the flaking paint, clean the throttle mechanism, repair any issues in the throttle/gear box, paint the aluminum parts, polish the stainless steel guard, lubricate moving parts, and add fluid to the compass.
The pictures show the areas where the paint starting flaking off the aluminum. When the paint is scratched, chipped, or worn then water can easily find its way between the metal and the paint. When water becomes trapped under the paint you can bet that corrosion will be the result. The best way to avoid the flaky popping bubble type of paint flaking is to try to prevent it from happening at all. Typically areas where metal has attachments points (Screws, bolts, or other) it is common for paint to be scrapped off or chipped. Once that tiny hole is available for water, its only a matter of time before water works is way under the paint.
On Great Ketch, one can see the most damage at the base, where there were many dents, and scratches and on the plate, where water sat and found its way through tiny holes where screw holes were. I took a wire brush to the base and the paint flew off just from the breeze caused by the rotating wire spindle. Seriously, the paint was in very poor condition.
Removing the stainless screws that held the plate onto the binnacle post was a challenge. The screws where frozen in the aluminum mount and it required two days of penetrating fluid and large screw driver and impact driver to coax and tease the screws out. The key is patience and vibration.Once the cockpit has been completed in the spring -- I will gel coat the entire area -- then the refreshed binnacle will be placed into the boat and cables connected.
These 33' cat ketches were originally designed for a tiller. Note how the transom hung rudder extends higher than the cockpit. Hull #1 has a tiller and I believe Hull # 2, The wheel was an option during the build from order.The picture toward left shows the binnacle without the compass, compass mount, stainless steel support mounts, and the throttle and gear box. Once I have completed this project I shall post the final project.
