Building a new layout boat

D

don novicki

Active member
Can anyone tell me if I can use regular fiberglass resin/hardner when applying kevlar cloth to the underside of my layout boat? I have always worked with fiberglass mat but maybe would like to try some Kevlar this time around. Also is it really hard to cut the cloth and would I need special tools to do so. Thanks for any info.....
 
Can anyone tell me if I can use regular fiberglass resin/hardner when applying kevlar cloth to the underside of my layout boat? I have always worked with fiberglass mat but maybe would like to try some Kevlar this time around. Also is it really hard to cut the cloth and would I need special tools to do so. Thanks for any info.....
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Are you talking about putting it in a mold or on a wood boat you built? The advice woudl differ. When you say "regular" resin do you mean poly or epoxy?

It is hard to cut, but you can buy inexpensive scissors that work fairly well when sharp (they also make specialized cutters, but for a one time use they wouldn't make sense). You can't really sand the stuff once on the boat (it fuzzes like crazy), so whatever you do, you need to not want to sand it much (it can be done, but is crazy painful).
 
For cutting the cloth the best thing i have found is there are scissors that harbor freight has that look like meat scissors that work amazing on cutting cloth
here is the link to the scissors they work great
http://www.harborfreight.com/multipurpose-scissors-47877.html
 
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Don~

I am wondering why you might want to use Kevlar for this application. Kevlar is typically used 1) to get a very light boat (e.g., canoes and kayaks) when the entire boat is molded with Kevlar and 2) to protect vulnerable surfaces (like keels that ground out on rock or gravel). If you are sheathing a wooden hull, I would recommend cloth (somewhere between 6 and 10 ounces/square yard) and epoxy resin.

BTW: Adding any additional skins to a 'glass hull will protect against punctures but will not stiffen the hull.

Hope this helps,

SJS
 
If i am not mistaken TDB used kevlar on the 17' classic in the hull bow area for added strength. My '96 has kevlar in it.
 
Thanks for the help. I am building an open water layout and wanted Kevlar on the bottom of the well floor (exterior) as and additional buffer against abrasion when pulling the layout back in or pushing it out of the tender. I guess if it's covered with resin you wouldn't really get the benefits of the Kevlar material itself. I hope to post up a pic when I am done.....
 
If you are concerned about damage or cutting into class and resin, you can glue rails to bottom. When you pull the boat over the gunwales it will rub on the rails and not the hull.
 
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