# Coating Panels with Epoxy Before Assembly?  Boat Cradle

**URL:** <https://forum.clcboats.com/t/coating-panels-with-epoxy-before-assembly-boat-cradle/42452>\
**Category:** Builder's Forum\
**Created:** [August 3, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/coating-panels-with-epoxy-before-assembly-boat-cradle/42452 "2014-08-03T18:31:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Don\_Pippins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@Don\_Pippins](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Don_Pippins)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/coating-panels-with-epoxy-before-assembly-boat-cradle/42452/1 "2014-08-03T18:31:07Z")

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Good Evening !

My lovely bride and I built a NE Dory a few yeara ago at the Wooden Boat school for our 30th anniversary so we'r epretty familiar with constrution and finishin CLC kits. &nbsp;We just received a "Boat Cradle" kit that we're building for our first grandchild.

We plan to coat all the pieces with several coats of epoxy before we begin the assembly. &nbsp;Obviously we'll have to drill out all the wire holes but this should make sanding the panles much easier. &nbsp;They'll be flat!! &nbsp;Final finishing will follow once the boat is glued up.

Can you think of any reason this apparoch might present unforseen problems? &nbsp;Would the side panels be too stiff the bend?

Don and Terri Pippins&nbsp;

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**Author:** ![Howard\_Spira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ec9cab/32.png) [@Howard\_Spira](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Howard_Spira)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/coating-panels-with-epoxy-before-assembly-boat-cradle/42452/2 "2014-08-03T21:08:36Z")

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i don't think that pre-coating will make it too stiff or create any particular problem.

will it save you a lot of time?&nbsp;

i think that depends on how cleanly you glue up the panels.&nbsp; you may want to make judicious use of blue tape during that phase to keep the glue/fillets only where you need them to be.

it usually the drips and runs that eat up sanding time.

Howard

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**Author:** ![Don\_Pippins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@Don\_Pippins](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Don_Pippins)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 10:05am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/coating-panels-with-epoxy-before-assembly-boat-cradle/42452/3 "2014-08-04T10:05:26Z")

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Hi Howard!

Thanks for the sugestions. &nbsp;There are many nooks and crannies that are difficult to reach except by hand.. and the concave shape of the inside of the panels makes the use of a RO palm sander troublesome. &nbsp;

Our real concern was the stiffness of the side panles after a couple of coat of epoxy!

Thanks again

&nbsp;

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**Author:** ![Howard\_Spira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ec9cab/32.png) [@Howard\_Spira](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Howard_Spira)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 11:44am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/coating-panels-with-epoxy-before-assembly-boat-cradle/42452/4 "2014-08-04T11:44:08Z")

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just a quick note that the real rigity would come with glassing each side....and creating a true composite.&nbsp; the glass has relatively little stretch which is why it makes a great skin when bonded to both side of an okoume (or cedar strip) core.

that said, don't wait weeks before assembling after coating each side.&nbsp; i would coat....sand and assemble in a couple days.&nbsp; the epoxy stays relatively flexible but even it gets hard and potentially stiff/brittle after a couple weeks.

howard