Glassing Hull, Pictures and Questions

C

charlie foulds

Well-known member
I Glassed my first layer of fiberglass today
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I was thinking of doing another layer of glass. My question is, Should I wait until the first layer is cured and sand? Or should I apply a second layer before it is completely cured ? Should I glass tape the edges before the second layer? I decided after to much thought to go with the glass instead of the Kevlar. The Kevlar was just to intimidating for me......."Chicken"
 
If you are going to put a second layer on do it before the first cures, better for several reasons (don't need to sand and get a chemical bond). Do not tape the edges if you are putting on a second layer fo glass - no need.
 
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Thanks Tod. If you look at the last pic you can see where I overlapped the edges. (not to clean and smooth)Do you think I should sand this area smooth before the second layer for a better"look"?
 
As Tod said, if you are going to add another layer of 6 oz you probably don't need to tape. Then again, why do you want another layer? Remember an extra layer is that much more weight in epoxy. Personally, I wouldn't.

Charlie, You probably don't realize it yet but these boats with the materials you have used are already damned near bullet proof against 'normal' hazards. You can overbuild if it'll make you feel better but honestly I don't think you need to.
 
I wouldn't clean up anything other than what was sticking up. You may want to just wrap the second layer up 4" from the chines for abraison. Fair everything in with microbaloons once done.

As for what Pete said... I have had numerous scrapes that woudl have went through one layer fo glass. The sweet water folk dont' know what a barnacle encrusted rock can do or how a dropping tide can get ya.
 
Since Charlie is getting his answers can I piggy back on his post and ask a question?

I have been thinking ahead to my glassing the hull and was thinking of taping the chines and keel. I am going to be glassing with 6oz. Would it be better to tape before the glass or after?
 
I feel bad for not posting this first. Charlie looks good. I am filleting my boat right now. So far all the spots that dont show are done. Now I have to start on the stuff that does. Tell you what if it I dont get better quick my boat is not going to have that out of the mold look your were talking about thats for sure.
 
Charlie - Looking great! I am up on the Eastern Shore (Chincoteague) this weekend and will be glassing my hull this weekend. I'll post some pics when I get home tonight of my progress this far.

Brandon - I have taped first. I figured that I would get a smoother finish if I glassed over the tape. Once I taped I sanded the edges to fair and added back a layer of epoxy only. I will sheath the hull this weekend.

Andrew - What is the reason for taping after the hull is sheathed? Talking to my father-in-law (he has built boats before) he said that the main reason he could think of is that when the taped areas get damaged you are just repairing the taped areas and still have the sheathed fiber underneath. Any other reasons?
 
James... I taped first then sheathed. I wish I hadn't.

Taping is Much easier than sheathing... because when sheathing, one works with a bunch of cloth that gets pulled this way and that. There is a ton of value having a completely smooth surface to work with.

In retrospect, I would have sheethed 1 layer on the hull and side. Then another layer on the hull only. Both layers of sheathed material would meet in the middle (where the center keelson would eventually go).

Looking ahead, fairing sucks. I found myself sanding off a lot of the sheathing because of the bumps that were created during the taping process.

Morton and I bring our boats into rocky areas every time we hunt. We've scraped more rocks than I can count. The damage is done to the keelsons and the very hull bottom... never where the sides meet the hull or where the hull meets the bow and/or transom.

That's what I would do if I had to do it all over again.

Best, Andrew
 
Brandon, I did exactly the same thing,and I can tell you my floatation compartments are far from pretty!!!!! Practice makes perfect.>>>>Well,almost!
 
I just finished fairing my first layer of glass and I am going to lay up the 2 main sheets tonight while I still have my "helper" available. I will have to add a case of beer to my tally sheet!!!!!!
 
Nope, you haven't "faired" yet Charlie...

You cleaned it up some... but fairing is filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding... until you get that out of the mold look that you are seeking.

It's like porn, you'll know fairing when you see it.

A.
 
Have any of you used Dynel as a second layer for added abrasion resistance? I took Joel's advise and ordered enough Dynel for the bottom and deck over the regular 6oz fiberglass. It's wierd stuff, kind of like epoxing a layer of white cotton muslin over the fiberglass. It doesn't go transparent, sort of transluscent white, and it leaves a sharp edge that definitely need to be faired. I am waiting for micro balloons so I can fair the whole hull to between "duck boat" and "show boat" standards.
 
John,

I purchased one of the fancy cloths for the hull of my boat and standard 6oz for the deck. I think mine is Biax though. Have not wet it out and only plan on one coat of cloth.



Charlie,
How much epoxy did it take to wet out the fabric on the hull? I am thinking I am going to run out and trying to judge if I should re order and when.

So far I have used two gallons and still have to fillet the transom knees and the keel and chines near them.

I am using Biax tape in all the area's that show. I like it a lot more then standard so far.
 
Hey brandon,The boat sounds like its coming along,any pics. I used a little less than a 1 1/2 gallons for both layers of fiberglass. I think I lost about a 1/2 gallon on the floor. The biax seems to wet out and keep its shape better. I went with 1 layer 4" biax and 2 layers 6" cloth
 
Charlie, Thanks for the info just ot be clear was that 1 1/2 gallons for two coats of fabric or one coat of fabric with a second coat of resin on it to fill the weave?
 
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