Peel ply is GREAT stuff. I used it for the first time last year on a
fairly technical prject... now I use it for almost any epoxying/
fiberglassing job; it is not expensive and it saves a lot of work. The
peel ply is a layer of porous cloth that the resin won't stick to.
Sounds great huh? You lay it over the wet lamination, roller it down,
and the resin oozes up thru the peel ply. Sounds better & better eh?
Well it improves adherence, eliminates voids & bubbles, gives you a
higher fiber/resin ratio, and (here's the best part) when you peel it
off the cured lamination, it leaves behind a roughened but uniform
surface that doesn't need any sanding before putting on another layer.
Stronger better faster, and no sanding dust. Secondary bonds put on a
peel ply-ed surface are about 20 to 30% stronger, and if you do it
while the resin is still a little green, it's not a secondary bond at
all.

That actually sounds like a great solution to my vaccuum bagging
dillema. The designer doesn't say anything about bagging but it
helps. The problem is I have never done fiberglass before and I
didn't want to spend another $300+ on equipment but what you are
talking about seems to be like half the way to VB without using pumps
and stuff. I will definately do that. I am looking for ways to
reduce weight without reducing strength and think this will help.

I have laid on paint over a peel ply-ed surface and came out
beautiful. A resin finish would surely do the same, you could sand &
varnish the final coat if you chose.

Yeah there will be a lot of sanding involved if I want that thick
glass look.

Any pictures of your outrigger?

Well the structural building hasn't started yet, I'm in the planning,
buying, and tooling up stages right now. It probably wont rain much
here in So Cal this year anymore so i can get the wood pretty soon and
get something more substantial done but I don't want to rush. This is
the design http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/garyd/plans.html but I am
making a few minor changes, all designer approved of course. i am
using a second outrigger that will be set on the open side, like the
BW pic at the bottom of the page, but in close to the hull for safety
and weight reduction, making it really hard to flip. I am adding a
couple extra hiking seats to improve balance and I am going with a
slightly larger sail. Also I am using bamboo for the crossbeams and
if i can find it for the mast. There will be a forestay and the mast
will sit in a reinforced tube indtead of being just strapped to the
beam. Later I am going to try to add a small jib sail, mostly to
practice using one. The jib may not really add any speed but I want
to find out for myself. I am also considering doing a traditional
carving at the bow and stern. The designer has a lot of experience in
polynesia and he says that traditionally they would often add a
carving of a bird head and tail. I am thinking an Albotross for
luck. For a name I am thinking 'Moli' which is the Hawaiian name for
the Laysan Albotross. The only problem is that I have never done
carvings before so that will be a dependent on the outcome. I am going
to have to buy the paddles because I don't think I get the curve right
but I am going to attempt to make the steering oar. There are
instructions with my plans and I want to get it long enough.

I am trying to come up with some sort of rest for the oar that will
allow it to hold its position, kind of like an autopilot, so I don't
have to hold it all the time. I think a simple box with round notches
cut out to let it rest in certain positions with some kind of a latch
to hold it in place.

I have a lot of work ahead of me.

Bill