How to fix butt joint delaminations?

[Mike H.]

I started construction of my Spindrift 10N a few days ago and removed the clamps from my side/bottom butt joints. They are very strong but have a few areas where the glass didn't bond to the wood. The glass is still opaque and you can tell it isn't laminated by tapping on it.

I was thinking of buying a syringe, injecting epoxy into these areas, and reclamping it. I've also considered cutting out these areas and putting in new glass tape. Does anyone have any experience with such repairs?

Thanks all!

Mike H.

[Brent]

If the delamination is such that the overall joint is strong I would continue to assemble the boat. The filleting process will fuse the hull panels together,resulting total hull structure that will be strong. THEN grind/cut/sand out the delaminations and apply a new tape where needed. Taking care to get a smooth fair finish.

I would NOT inject under the existing tape on any place that will end up showing; in the fairing process this will have to be sanded out to get a nice finish.

[Designer]

Hi mike.

You don't say what percentage did not bond, but it does not sound like it is large. I would follow what Brent said. If they are like small bubbles in the glass, I usually cut through the glass around the perimeter and remove the glass so that when I fill or re-glass the area I won't have any voids.

[Ken_Potts]

I guess I'll chime in too - I've had my share of those opaque bubbles and I either cut them out then fill them or re-tape them depending on the size of the void. I've thought about doing the syringe thing but I haven't tried it because:

1. I'm not sure I'd be able to get rid of all the air and

2. If I didn't get rid of the void I'd just end up cutting and filling anyway.

If the areas aren't big it's not too much of a hardship to cut the glass away and fill it - Just put on some good music and spend the afternoon in the shop 8)

[Mike H.]

Wow :!: This is an active forum! Thank you all for the prompt and sage advice. I'm going to cut out and replace the bad glass today I believe. I'd rather do the filling and whatnot on a nice horizontal surface than on the boat.

Mike H.