I was just onboard 113 and had a most unusual, maybe unsettling, experience. Typically when I'm onboard there is one of a dozen jobs I'm attempting to accomplish in the short amount of time I have before trodding off to work. Maybe it's the cold Fall air, but, this morning I was just sitting below taking stock of what's to be.

There are sheets of pattern stock lying on top of the cabin and forward port blocking out the light from a nearby light fixture. When I peeked into the v-berth area I noticed an orange/red glow coming from the overhead created by the side-decks. Intially it didn't hit me because the same orange/red glow can be seen in the areas where I filled in the port and starboard opening ports. Currently those areas are made up of epoxy, fiberglass cloth, matting and microbaloons.

I knew from removing the non-skid and deck paint earlier this summer that a deck job had done because of the tell-tale red colored fairing mixture underneath. That and the fact the side-decks by the cockpit still have the 'what were they thinking blue'(Lackey) color visible. What wasn't apparent, until this morning, was the fact that someone has removed nearly all of the coring from the forward decks!

How does this change things? The decks are solid feeling. They certainly don't creak or pop but now I feel they need strengthening. It's understood that, as long as the adhesion is uncompromised, the 'skin-core-skin' schedule is stronger than solid fiberglass.

I can't see myself laying a couple of layers of fabric over the entire decks and fairing out the whole mess. New stringers bonded inplace below the decks seem most logical right now. Aussie Geoff has some on UHURU. It seems like a good second line of defense for deck strength. They could be used as attachment points for handholds or small padeyes for secring gear in the v-berth.

If we can get a picture of this orange/red phenomenon to turn out I'll post one. For future reference, it may be as significant as Area 59 or maybe Funk 49 depending on your bend

As always, any input or reflection is appreciated. Tony G