Flyfisher-Ply cracked when folding butterfly

[Slipperhead]

Yup, the ply cracked on two of the four folded "corners". Any suggestions?

I can unstitch and lay flat still. I was thinking about either laying flat and reinforcing with glass then fold again or trying to fix with the panels in their current position. Any help appreciated.

For future applications, can these panels be steamed to make them more limber???

Thanks,

Garland in VA

[Hirilonde]

I don't see any "weld" (short taped section) joining the side to bottom panels near the bow and stern. Were you supposed to do this before stitching? The Spindrift uses these welds, but I never built any of Graham's kayaks. If this is the case then I would go back and follow the plans.

If you were not supposed to make these "welds", the hull is otherwise fair and you are going to paint it, then the glass tape will compensate for any weakness. Go ahead and repair in place.

The key concern to me would be: Is the hull going to come out fair?

[Tom Lathrop]

After this problem showed up quite a while ago, the standard remedy was, as Dave said, to place a patch of fiberglass just forward of the cut in the panels. Of course, the FG must be placed before folding the butterfly.

[Scott Dunsworth]

I would personally take the wires out to let the ply relax. Then put a piece of fiber glass tape 8 or 10 oz. on both sides ( about 8 inchs long ran length ways with the hull ). Let it cure well, then go again.

I think its going to be difficult to get the true fair shape any other way.

[Steve W]

About the time I was folding my Spindrift 11N, there was a report about joint cracking. Just to be sure mine didn't I wet a washcloth and layed it on both joints. I don't know how well it helped, but I never had a feeing they wer close to cracking FWIW. But on the 11N, you fiberglass a small area first. I am not sure of your design.

Take Care,

Steve

[mitchell ross]

I built a Flyfisher 2 years ago and had the same problem. My solution, as said, was to unstitch and apply 2 - 3" squares of 8oz tape set in epoxy on both sides just forward of the cut. It worked and faired fine.

Mitch

[Slipperhead]

Thanks for the recommendations! I also got a quick response from Graham. After considering my options, I decided to unstitch the boat and let the panels relax. I then filled in the cracks with epoxy to repair them. The wood is quite dry so I'm thinking about wetting it on both sides/steaming before I try bending them again. If that doesn't seem to work well, I'm tempted to say down some glass on one or both sides as a couple of you have mentioned.

Thanks again for your help! I will post pics again soon!

Garland in VA

[John Burritt]

Glassing both sides is an excellent choice to minimize further splitting.

[kiwiboatbuilder]

The same thing happened to my flyfisher. I had one crack as I was tightening up the wires. I pulled it apart, and added a patch of glass both sides as noted above on all 4 cuts about 3" square and it faired out just fine.

[ecgossett]

I had a crack appear in the tight curve under bow after I had put taped the boat up, and pulled the wires. For the outside I faired it into the boat, and inside (not even visible) I placed tape, and then covered the entire inside seat level and below of bow with 8 ounce cloth.