GOOD NEWS PHOTOS OF APRON

[bob mitchell]

HERE IS WHAT A SHOT APRON LOOKS LIKE IN THE LOW PART OF THE BILGE, AROUND FRAMES 18 AND 19.

BUT A FOOT OR SO LATER, COMING OUT OF THE LOW AREA, DAADAA!

I AM HAVING TO PRY WITH TWO DRIVEN IN  BARS TO GET THE LOWEST APRON LEVEL UP. IT IS SOLID AND IMPROVING.

AND THE BOLTS LOOK LIKE THIS - JUST WHAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR.

AND FROM THE OUTSIDE THE BEVELED LOWEST LEVEL LOOKS LIKE THIS.

WITH BOAT NAILS LOOKING LIKE THIS...

THE POINT BEING THAT IF YOUR BOAT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AND NEGLECTED LIKE MINE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE GALVANIZED FASTENERS IN YOUR BOAT ARE JUST FINE!!! iF YOU HAVE HAD A DRY BILGE, AS ACK EXPECTED, THEN I WOULD BET THAT THE GALVANIZED FASTENERS ARE IN FINE SHAPE. AND, IF THE APRON GETS JUST A LITTLE BETTER AS IT RISES OUT OF THE BILGE WATER LEVELS, I WILL JUST LAP THE NEW APRON SECTION RIGHT INTO THE OLD WHEN i PULL THE ENGINE. THE FINAL PICTURE IS THE DRAIN CUP BETWEENFRAMES 19 AND 20, I THINK. IT IS ABOUT 7" DEEP AND HAS A BOTTOM, ie IT IS ISOLATED FROM THE DEADWOOD, WHICH IS SOMETHING I ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT - WHEN I PUMPED MY BILGE DID IT FILL UP MORE FROM THE DEADWOOD AREA? BUT MY SENSE IS THE DECK LEAKS WERE THE MAIN CULPRIT, AND  PRETTY MUCH STAYED IN THE BILGE

ISOLATED FROM THE DEADWOOD - AND THAT MAY BE ONE REASON MY DEADWOOD IS IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE.