Hi there.

I think we all agree that there isn't too much point in making the inside as pretty as the outside. I do take the time, though, to go over every inch of the inside to remove or smooth out any fiberglass 'sharps' or edges. Not just for the convenience of not scratching or tearing dry bags, but also for the (small) safety aspect of not ripping up my (or someone else's) fingers as we rummage through the compartments trying to arrange gear.

Mostly, this occurs in edges where glass is overlapping: tape along the sheer, tape around the bulkhead, multiple layers, say, in the cockpit bottom. I go over these seams with rough paper or my Sure-form tool to get it more-or-less even, then paint it over with fresh epoxy. Another spot that can get messy is the hatch spacer and lip: stuff gets squeezed out the 'backside' of the ring and can form little finger catchers that can easily be cleaned up.

Later, after I've added all the deck rigging and such, I'll check the inside for screw threads and points. Sometimes I'll grind a bit off a protruding screw, sometimes I'll cover the whole screw end and nut with a wad of Goop or silicone.

For me, this has to do with general expectations about as much as anything else. Do owners of glass or plastic boats have to contend with this? I don't think they do, at least for the 'majors'. In fact, for legal reasons, I wouldn't be surprised to read they have QA/QC folks check out each boat just for the personal safety issue of getting cut or hurt on an overlooked defect like this.

I guess that's my standard, then, whether it's my boat or a customer's. I don't worry too much about looks (but I do worry some, I confess), but I try to run my hand over every square inch and get rid of any snags or sharp points. They are easy to take care of, don't take much time to fix now, and I don't ever have to worry about it later on while packing or fooling with the boat.

Pete,
in Snohomish, WA