Steve,

Trying to just sand the edges usually results in a 2nd best smoothness. I
like to use a scraper to taper the edge towards the hull a bit, then fill
the edge with epoxy thickened with microballoons (or microspheres or the new
System III QuickFair). If the edge is more rough than not, or has whiskers
of glass bunched up or laying over it, I'll sometimes give the edge a quick
pass with a SurForm too, e.g. with the one that has a short curved blade.
The scraper that I use is a Sandvik ('Bahco') carbide scraper with a handle
on it (do a search at Amazon.com or similar). The copy-cat versions that
Home Depot sells work fine too. Some like to use cabinets scrapers, but I
find that they are a lot of work. After scraping, I give the glass and edge
a light sanding with 100-grit on a small random orbital palm sander. As far
as fairing goes, the microballoons (or similar) work pretty well. If you
find that you have tiny ridges or grooves that still stand out, you can use
one of the plastic fillers, like WEST 410 (I think that's the number) or
System III plastic minifibers in epoxy to fair them out. My personal
policy, since plastic is soft, is that if the defect that I'm fairing is
thinner than a layer of paint or close to it, then it's OK since the paint
is softer than the epoxy w/plastic in it. I don't believe in deeper plastic
fills. Finally, I only go through this on the outside of a boat (or cabin
etc), and I only put a real super finish in the region from the waterline to
the sheer. Saves labor. Under the waterline, smooth is smooth enough.
Inside the boat, I just run the scraper down the glass edges, give it a
quick sanding, then coat with epoxy and call it good (paint withstanding).

Have fun,

Brian




"Steve" wrote in message ...
Hi,

I am building a stitch and glue sailing tender for my yacht and kids and
have got to the stage of having the outer seams all nicely taped up and am
ready to start the inside seams and adding the gunnels, center board,
thwarts etc.

I am looking for some tips on what to do about finishing the fibreglass
tape edges. There is quite a ridge there which I can sand or even plane
but even then there is quite a noticeable bump between the plywood and the
tape.

I want to paint the hull so wood finish is not an issue but ridges along
the seams are not the look I am after.

What is the trick to making it look as if the tape isn't there.

Thanks

Steve