Oh, well - the supplier of the aluminium butt-weld flange has problems with the delivery. I will not wait for X weeks.

So I'll go back to the full-plywood system and make a collar from 1-2 layers of 30mm ply with 6-8 bolts though the whole partners package. 

The bottom part of the mast (130x5) should arrive mon-wed along with the battens. 

The bottom paint job is done, and with a decision of leaving everything not essential to basic sailing for next year, this could theoretically mean a splash day in a week. More realistically in two.

Jami Jokinen wrote:With the temperature at epoxy-levels, I’ve finally started to glue the partners. 30+12mm birch ply above and 9+9mm  below the deck. An aluminium butt-weld flange (150mm with a 130mm mast) will be installed too.

Hi Jami,

Sorry to butt in hear but I have a question (I am developing my plan for a conversion over this coming winter). I scanned through this thread for a few pages and didn't find my answer.

Looking at the photo of the partners (beautiful job by the way) how will you finish off the plywood 'sandwich' above and below? Layers of glass? Epoxy? Paint? combination?

And the Step?

I think you can safely leave the partners as they are, Jami. You've reinforced a wide area of the foredeck with the lowest level of plywood, and I can't see a need for adding anything more.

Jami Jokinen wrote:With the temperature at epoxy-levels, I’ve finally started to glue the partners. 30+12mm birch ply above and 9+9mm  below the deck. An aluminium butt-weld flange (150mm with a 130mm mast) will be installed too.

Jami will there be any extra structure from the partner area to the gunwale either above or below deck or is the strengthened deck sufficient to transmit load to the boat?

Looks nice!  Good luck!

With the temperature at epoxy-levels, I’ve finally started to glue the partners. 30+12mm birch ply above and 9+9mm  below the deck. An aluminium butt-weld flange (150mm with a 130mm mast) will be installed too.