Having set aside the first hull of the second ferry for the time being, we turn our attention this week to the second hull. The two molded skins that will be stitched together to form this hull have seen some weather, so the first order of business is patching them up.

A few of the eighth-of-an-inch panels needed to be replaced. This was done in the same way that the skins were originally fabricated, using a laminating technique called vacuum-bagging. The replacement panels are glued on, a sheet of plastic is taped over the patch and a shop vac pulls the air out, clamping the sheets together.

Note: The duct tape in the pictures is part of the vacuum bag, not the patch….