: I hate it when this happens.

: On my current Pygmy Coho project, as per instructions, I jammed a small piece
: of plywood in the bow, filled it with wood flour-thickened epoxy, then
: proceeded to attach the deck to the hull.

: The next day I looked up into the bow and discovered that my little epoxy dam
: had somehow managed to fall out of place. Maybe it was the epoxy got hot
: and more fluid, or maybe I bumped it somehow getting the deck into
: position.

: As I hope you can see, the epoxy sagged quite a bit, and the dam dropped a
: couple of inches. Now the epoxy is hard, of course, and I'm presented with
: the problem, er, challenge, of doing something to make it right. The epoxy
: blob is there to stay, but I'd like to get the dam out of there.

: Any suggestions? When I cut out the hatch cover, I'll have closer access, but
: it will still be a 4 or 5 foot reach. Right now it looks like I'll have to
: bolt a narrow saw blade to the end of a stick and try to saw it out of
: there, but I'll welcome any helpful ideas. I don't think I can simply
: cover it over with a larger end-pour.

: Pete,
: in Snohomish, Washington

If it was me, i'd take a 1/2 in flat chisel and 1/2 in (diam)gouge and fashion long handles for them - because you've got a long stretch, the sides and distance contribute to alignment of use. I'd set it up so that when laid flat the chisel edge is slightly raised. then i'd rotate the yak as I worked on it so the long chisel is ALWAYS lying flat so that minimal possible damage would occur. maybe even wrap the chisel w/ 10 turns of masking tape to keep the edge up off the sides. the most dangerous part is near the keel as both sides are so close and the keel curves up. real careful here, maybe the following method.

another route would be the same thing but with a wood rasp mainly onl the pull stroke. Plan on spending an evening carefully working away. I bet you'll come out ok. probably 50percent can stay in for the end pour, so you don't have to really clear it out.

it looks recoverable, and most is on the bottom anyway - where you want it. maybe cover it up w/ a pulley so when finished noone will notice.

good luck

-mick