Epoxy ???

[Denis Goyette]

You guys are talking about epoxy, where in the plan to they talk about using epoxy????

I tried to read some of the post for an answer but too many to look at.

[Barry Pyeatt]

Denis,

The manual doesn't really go into the use of epoxy for the construction of the Weekender. It isn't necessary to use epoxy to make a good sound boat nor is it necessary to use it to finish the boat.

Now then, having stated that, many builders have found that the use of epoxy from certain suppliers has provided a good sealer for the plywood and can be utilized to apply the fibreglass cloth to the parts instead of vinylester resins. There are a few builders that have used epoxy to encapsulate ( completely coat all surfaces of the materials) prior to assembly. One advantage to that is that it completely seals the end grains of the materials so that moisture cannot wick up into the wood.

Some other builders have used epoxy instead of the Urea/resin glue to assemble the parts. It is a very solid way to work.

In the example of the Mast Box, it seals the interior surfaces of the Mast Box so you don't have to worry about trying to finish them after you have assembled it. Simply mask off the contact surfaces to be glued together and coat the surface with epoxy resin. Once it sets up it is hard, smooth and completly waterproof. Then you can assemble the box using either the Urea/Resin glue or use epoxy to assemble it and seal off the contact surfaces as well.

One reason the Stevenson's don't use epoxy to apply the glass is most likely the amount of work needed to sand and prep it for painting after you are done glassing. Auto body fillers (like Bondo), are easy to use, sand well and accept paint beautifully. So...it takes more time to use epoxy, it can protect against moisture getting into the wood and it is a good adhesieve. It also costs more, but if that isn't a consideration then that is not entirely valid.

Now then, one disadvantage to epoxy is that it also seals in moisture and problems. They don't become so obvious to inspection until they are really bad. Then they take major repairs instead of minor repairs. In climates that have extremes in temps, freezing to hot, extremes in humidity and with boats that are stored outside in the off season under tarps most likely, epoxy finished boats generally require more extensive repairs when they need them than boats built with simpler techniques.

But that is just one viewpoint. There are lots of others equally valid. So it is still builders choice. New builders without much, if any, experience can build a Weekender just according to the plans and have a great boat.

[Simon]

When I made my mast box I sealed the solid wood section of it with straight epoxy but I used 1 layer of fibreglass on the plywood part. I did this to give the plywood a bit more abrasion resistence from the mast stub sliding up and down and moving around when sailing. Probably wouldn't be neccesary with half decent ply.

[tdrown]

I have been using fiberglass resin as a glue on the whole boat (I did put in order in for Dap's Plastic Resin Glue after I could not find it localy but the order didn't arrive and I had to cancel it) It was about $20/gal at the Home Depot, and I am just finishing off the first gallon (putting on the sides will get me into the next gallon, I have most things before that done, and the cabin trunk is on). It passed my own little boil/freezing test conducted on the premisis. I think I remembered everything smelt bad once I first started using it, but I have grown so used to it I can't tell if it smells. I'm not an expert on fasteners, but it's been working for me, of course my boats not in the water yet! Good luck with whatever you go with!

[High C]

Don't worry about not being able to smell the resin anymore, that's probably just a little dain bramage. :shock:

[Derek]

Tyler, how's the progress going? Been watching for new pics. Hull sides on yet?

[tdrown]

Hmm about fiberglass resin, I'm not exactly sure where the Home Depot Bondo brand Fiberglass Resin stands in term of moisture leak, but read this:

The

only thing that kept the bottom together was the polyester sheathing, and it

was also the polyster that caused the problems as people have found out now it

might be cheap but it doesn't stick to the wood and lets the moisture in. I

highly recommend that people don't try to do a boat as cheap as they can as you

pay the price later down the track.

from http://www.stevproj.com/Treloar.html

Too late to worry about things like that... too much of a potential headache, personaly I want to see a leak, at least that means the boat will be on the water! Not that working on it is a pain, in fact as I get closer it only gets better, of course I am not painting or fiberglassing quite yet, maybe a week.

Derek: about the status, thanks for asking, I have been unable to update my web page with pictures because my computer got up and died a month ago, less than a year old too. Today was a busy work day, both today and yesturday I finished up the cabin trunk. I just need to add the top stringer for the roof, the molding around the bottom and cut the portholes (I will be using the elipitical ones). I have been wating to put the sides on because I have been waiting for my neighbor to help me since he has a small circular saw that can cut the sharp angle so that the transition from the stem to the hull at the bow gusset is flush. I just talked with him tonight and his saw is at a job site and he is leaving tomorrow, never the less I will probably attach them this week, maybe Wed. or Thurs., but don't quote me on that. I have all the seat plywood cut out, I did some of that today, and I working on my hatch box. I am not securing mine so I can take it out and put it in the cockpit or somewhere while I am using the cabin overnight. Speaking of overnight, I need to catch up on sleep too.

[Derek]

Sounds like you're moving right along. Excellent! Memorial day still?

Good luck with the computer and look forward to seeing more pics in the future!

[tdrown]

yes, I do still hope to launch the boat memorial day weekend. This means 3 weeks, the next two weeks I hope to be fiberglassing, finishing, painting, and varnishing while making sails and spars during the dry-time. I probably should be finished by the 19th and then I'll do trailer mods, get it registered, do touch-ups, and rig it up, or probably just sleep as I need to start doing that (it's almost 1AM, have to wake up at 6:15, but will wake up at 7:15). I need to get wood for the rub rails. Will oak be too hard to bend? It's either Oak, Cedar, Spruce, or White pine. Oak of course would be a nice hard wood for the rub rails, but getting it around that curve will be a tough one.