A cautionary (epoxy) tale

[JeffM]

A cautionary tale

My only power tools are hand tools, so I get nervous about drilling the holes for things like the rudder, centerboard and trunk

[BobSmalser]

Simple.

120 degrees and higher softens marine epoxies.

Don't paint your hull black if you live in San Diego or further south without understanding that.

There are a few heat-resistant epoxies like JB Weld used to repair engines, but few folks have had trouble with standard marine epoxy in the tropics.

Not to mention the potential for warping the dickens out fo that carefully-made board of yours. Nothing of wood should live too close to a heater.

[JeffM]

Thanks, Bob. Stupid me. I've been admiring your cb and trunk, by the way, but not replying because I find words inadequate.

While I'm on the subject, I'm having trouble wetting out glass thoroughly enough to make all the fibers disappear -- I get complete disappearance only where I first apply the epoxy and allow it to puddle. Everywhere else I get transparency, but some fibers are still visible. I am spreading with flexible yellow scrapers, and going over the cloth multiple times. I suspect the problem is only cosmetic, but I'm thinking of leaving the deck bright and would rather not have this showing up at the butt joints.

[Frank Hagan]

Its easy to starve the cloth for resin; I also use spreaders, but push around a puddle and really get the cloth wet. Its harder to do on vertical sufaces, of course!

Also, on leaving the deck bright ... if you are going to step on the deck, you'll want to add non-skid to it, and while I've seen it done with clear finishes, it doesn't look that good. So if the deck portion is someplace you'll never step, go for it. But if you have to walk around on it, then it might be better to go for a painted surface with plenty of non-skid added.

[JeffM]

Thanks. Good point, Frank. Maybe I'll need to think of something else to leave bright to make it clear this is a wooden boat. I'm limited by the idea that I don't want the lockers to get hot, so light finishes only on the seats. So far, all I've got pinned down is the transom and rudder. The hull isn't pretty enough, even if I thought it would be out of the sun enough. Speaking of which, I'm trying to find a light color for the hull that will look good with tanbark sails. Maybe a sort of cream brown?