Boat Builder Central - Builder Forums

Joel,

I am ready to put down the sole, the original was 1/4 ply with about 1/8 of glass on the top and a layer of glass on the bottom. What is your reccomendation for replacement? I would like to keep it as light as possible. Is 1/4 ply still enough and can I skip the bottom glass?

Thanks


Steve

joel


Any suggestions?


Thanks

Your spans between support is small, still I would use 3/8" for a sole. I would glass both sides with one layer of 12 oz.

Joel,

So i pretty much finished this up, except for one issue. The windows in the hull are leaking a little. I didnt mess with them because from inside the hull they looked pretty solid, but when I put the boat in the water I get some seepage. They made a relief in the hull the thickenss of the window and then inset them into the hull so that they are flush with the bottom of the hull. Some areas around the seam on the bottom are jagged and I think that is where the water is coming in. I think they are made of acrylic and from my research it doesn't appear that epoxy will stick to it. Additionally, 5200 wont stick either. Do you have a suggestion on what I could fill and seal them up?

thanks!

Steve

steve, can you please post a picture of how the windows are mounted?

5200/4200 or lifeseal is what I would use below the waterline. Maybe you need to remove them and reset them into the flange with sealant - then glass a new lip to hold them in ?

Joel,

I started sanding on them a little and found a few hairline cracks mostly in the corners. It looks like all they used was gelcoat to seal them originally..

this is from the bottom of the hull


more from under the hull


This is how far they are set in


one of the corners on the inside



Showing where the gel coat? was used to seal the edge


the box



Thinking along the lines you suggest I would like to reinforce those corners on the inside. What about laying down some glass cut out to make a border progressively larger say out 4 inches or so to reinforce the "frame" inside the hull. Then lay down a bead of 5200 on the edge. From underneath seal the edge with epoxy & woodflour grinding out any of the cracks.. Trying to replicate what is there. It doesn't look like they had any glass overlaping the window on the bottom. its all on the inside Would the epoxy wood flour mix be be stiff enough?

Thanks!

I cannot see the pictures

What you suggest sounds fine. Epoxy/wood flour will be stronger than any putty they used in building the boat.

still would like to see how its built though

Joel,

I emailed you a link to my gallery, the gallery here is down.. When you get a chance, let me know what you think

Thanks again..
steve