The plan, build a flat bottom river boat using plywood and covering it with
fiberglass and epoxy'
The idea, cover one sheet of plywood at a time in my shop, leaving about 1
inch bare on each edge to screw the panels to the frames, then tape all the
joints and seams after the boat is put togather.
This way I can work thru the winter months, move out doors in the spring
and put it all togeather.
What do real builders think?

On Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:16:14 -0600, "clark"
wrote:

The plan, build a flat bottom river boat using plywood and covering it with
fiberglass and epoxy'
The idea, cover one sheet of plywood at a time in my shop, leaving about 1
inch bare on each edge to screw the panels to the frames, then tape all the
joints and seams after the boat is put togather.
This way I can work thru the winter months, move out doors in the spring
and put it all togeather.
What do real builders think?

Why leave the edges bare?

In building dinghies I use a computer generated lofting program and
cut the panels to shape; cover with epoxy and fiberglass; wash and
assemble.

I use epoxy to both cover the panels and to glue the panels together
and then tape the seams.

If you do it this way be sure to wash the panels to remove amine blush
that could result in weakened glued joints if not removed.

Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)

Bruce in Bangkok wrote:
On Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:16:14 -0600, "clark"
wrote:


The plan, build a flat bottom river boat using plywood and covering it with
fiberglass and epoxy'
The idea, cover one sheet of plywood at a time in my shop, leaving about 1
inch bare on each edge to screw the panels to the frames, then tape all the
joints and seams after the boat is put togather.
This way I can work thru the winter months, move out doors in the spring
and put it all togeather.
What do real builders think?


Glass to the edge. The texture left by the glass with just one coat of
epoxy (basically the weave of the cloth) - will provide enough profile
to guard against 'epoxy starving the joint' when you assemble and glue
together with epoxy. I would also suggest you 'seal' the raw plywood
with solvent thinned epoxy (especially the edges) before you so the
epoxy/fiberglass cloth thing.

paul oman - progressive epoxy polymers inc

On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:07:20 -0500, Paul Oman
wrote:

Bruce in Bangkok wrote:
On Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:16:14 -0600, "clark"
wrote:


The plan, build a flat bottom river boat using plywood and covering it with
fiberglass and epoxy'
The idea, cover one sheet of plywood at a time in my shop, leaving about 1
inch bare on each edge to screw the panels to the frames, then tape all the
joints and seams after the boat is put togather.
This way I can work thru the winter months, move out doors in the spring
and put it all togeather.
What do real builders think?


Glass to the edge. The texture left by the glass with just one coat of
epoxy (basically the weave of the cloth) - will provide enough profile
to guard against 'epoxy starving the joint' when you assemble and glue
together with epoxy. I would also suggest you 'seal' the raw plywood
with solvent thinned epoxy (especially the edges) before you so the
epoxy/fiberglass cloth thing.

paul oman - progressive epoxy polymers inc


Paul,

Could you advise on what "solvent" you suggest to thin epoxy? Or do
you mean "thinned epoxy" from a supplier.

I ask because I have tried most commonly available "thinners" such as
acetone, alcohol, gasoline (?), epoxy paint thinner, etc. and they
wern't particularly effective.

Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)