After much trepidation I finally fiberglassed the hull of my Chesapeake 16LT. I came out ok I think. I used chip brushes at the bow and stern and it went on a little thicker. I am not sure if that was due to the application technique by brush vs squeegee or because I did them last as it got warmer in the garage. Can I wait until the resin has cured to cut off the extra fiberglass? The video say to cut it while sticky.
Congrats! From the photos it looks really good. Are you going to let it go off completely, sand and re-coat, or let it do the partial cure then add layers while it’s green?
I was going to let it cure and then do a second coat. Is that ok? I finished this morning about 9:30. It was getter hotter and the epoxy was getting sticky and curing fast. If I can wait I will. One, I can’t stand for more than a few hours without back pain. Second the floor (draped with plastic) is really sticky. I have been breaking things up. The other reason is not ignoring my wife since we do outdoor stuff in the mornings.
Since it’s just one coat over glass, when you go back you just need a light scuff. I’d even consider just using a gray scotch brite pad. Anything too aggressive and you will sand through your glass pretty quick. This is fine. I’m planning a glass layup this afternoon but it’s going to be in the 90’s here so I understand. I prefer the chemical bond of layering on green epoxy but plenty scuff between coats and layer. I’m sure more experienced folks will chime in. Also make sure you wash any epoxy blush off too.
Jon,
I will scuff it up before I add the second coat. I sanded/scuffed on the interior. I will look for blush. Is it a white film? I checked it earlier and it is not sticky. Nothing else looked suspicious.
Rob
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If it’s less than 3 days and/or you can dent the non-tacky epoxy/glass with a thumbnail, not only do you not need to sand it, you shouldn’t.
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The excess glass should be cut off just as soon as it’s no longer tacky, if possible. Waiting longer will still give you a working boat, don’t worry, just at the cost of more work. Glass is easier to cut the less it has cured.
Laszlo
Laszlo,
I cut off the extra fiberglass. How close to the edge of the hull should I cut it? I held it at an 45 degree angle to the shear clamp. It is not even by any stretch but I assume it will be covered by the deck. Unfortunately I also notice some areas where I didn’t go all the way to the edge leaving fiberglass bubbles. I read on this forum that they should be cut out and fill with epoxy. They are at the top so I hope they will also be covered by the deck. A bit upset about it.
don’t sweat it.
i have built over 20 boats and have never got it perfect and not had a little peel back like you are showing.
you can just sand it off and paint it with epoxy, when you join the hull to the deck, you will have an opportunity to put glass over it as part of that process.
howard
Howard,
I am so glad you responded. I can sleep tonight! Sand it or cut it off? Thank you!
Rob
sand it off, then wipe with denatured alcohol to clean off the dust.
it will come off like peeling the skin off a blister on your finger. the denatured alcohol, in addition to cleaning, will help you confirm you have taken the ‘dead skin’ off.
80 grit will make quick work of it.
20 boats! How many wives does that cost?
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Howard,
Should I sand now or after I add additional coats of resin? It’s been about 24 hours since the first coat was applied. Some area went on thicker particularly the stern where the weave is already filled in spots. I used a chip brush on the stern and bow (as per the video) but maybe I should have squeegeed after.
Rob
I would sand it off sooner rather than later. when sooner, you will then layer epoxy resin over it so less of a hole left then if you do it later.
with respect to costs. only one wife…
the neighbors would tell her after she had been away (she travelled a lot on business), “you don’t need to worry Mrs h, he was working on his boats.”
that said, its twenty boats over almost 35 years…and i only keep the best 6…and two belong to her.
here’s her custom frej - 22 lbs and 5 year old.
here’s her clc 14, recently restored, pushing 28 years
beats watching TV or other vices…
h
Howard,
Beautiful work.
Rob
Howard,
Makes sense. Thanks again.
Rob
Excellent! The world needs more wives like her. Beautiful boats. I learned so much from my first one that the second one is going way better. You are doing that x10!
I just informed my wife that I want to build another boat. So it begins!
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My wife, after 48 years and many boats, doesn’t seem to mind my boatbuilding. She’s now the poster girl for the microBootlegger Sport…
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Yeah my wife is worried I’ll get a taste for boat building LOL… I do really enjoy it.