Strip Built NorthWind

[DarrellS]

I didn't have a problem getting it lay flat.

[DarrellS]

I have always posted the good along with the bad. Well I have a problem, seems the first four feet or so of the fiberglass was contaminated or something. About every 12 inches or so i have a stripe that did not wet out properly. It is very uniform in the distance and shape of the area involved so it has to be a problem with the glass. I have been thinking about it and with no other option I started ripping off the effected area this morning with a heat gun and scraper will post pics later. Never had to patch an area, I guess we will see how it looks. If I don't like it I will strip the entire boat and start over.

[makenmend]

Bad news, don't envy you at all,hope I never have to do what your going to do but please document the methods you use for future reference, wish you success.

MM

[DarrellS]

It's going pretty good. The fiberglass comes off pretty easy once heated up. I am taking my time and being careful with the wood underneath. Should have the rest off later today and the remaining epoxy sanded smoothe.



The rest of the boat looks great though.

[gerald]

I removed the fiberglass from an boat that had massive sun damage. It wasn't any fun--made much harder by being so old. You should be able to feather the edges, overlap with a patch, then feather the patch after it cures for several days. Before you start doing a lot of sanding on the boat you'll want to do a fill coat to fill the weave a bit and also fill the patch before you start sanding. Otherwise you'll get lots of debris in the weave that is hard to clean out. It will cause speckles. This is no biggie. You'll be ok.

[DarrellS]

Thanks Gerald. I just finished sanding the area and feathering the existing edge, so i am ready to reapply the fiberglass afterwhile. First I have to go to town with Momma and take care of some Honey-Do's.

[DarrellS]

How much overlap for a good strong splice? 3-4 inches?

[gerald]

I generally do 2", but 1 1/2" will work. I've made every mistake known to man...and some not known....
Just part of life.

[DarrellS]

New glass is down with a saturation coat. I will do a fill coat tomorrow and see for sure how it is going to look, but i think it will be fine. I can see it because I know it is there, but I don't think the seam will jump out to someone who does not know that it has been spliced.

[makenmend]

"" I can see it because I know it is there "" when you get the bit between your teeth you move, and yes you know, but I bet a casual observer, could ever tell the difference, nice work.

MM

[gerald]

10,000 miles later you won't care and you won't look for it any more. Looks like you've done a good job.

[DarrellS]

Thanks Gerald,
I am really happy swith the splice. Once I get some fill coats on it I will blend it with the original glass and i think it will be hardly noticable. In case anyone is wonder about the masking tape I used it to keep the line on the new glass nice and straight so it will be easier to blend. I pulled the tape and trimmed the excess off today and I looks like it will be easy to blend the seam.

[bowgarguide]

How are you coming on tis build, do I need to put a night shift on to catch up with you
Ron

[DarrellS]

You've almost caught me. I am going to pull it off of the forms tomorrow and start the inside.

[DarrellS]

I wiggled it, shook it, cussed at it, drank a beer,wiggled some more, drank a beer, cussed a little more, drank a beer, shook it some, drank another beer and then it came off of the forms . Started sanding the inside, trying to stay ahead of Ron, being how I had a 2 month head start and he has nearly caught me. I am very impressed with the weight so far.

[Texmullet]

Very nice!!

[DarrellS]

The way my sinuses are killing me, I am not about to sand a Cedar and Redwood boat. Broke down and went and got a shot today so maybe by the weekend I will hget back to sanding.

[gerald]

You too! Wear a dust mask. I hate'em, but it does seem to help.

[DarrellS]

I'm still alive, barely. I don't know what I had but I have not felt that bad for a longtime. Gonna give it another day or so and then I promise to get back to building on the Northwind.

[bowgarguide]

Thought my fishing pardner was going to croak for a while
Welcome back to the living.
Ron

[makenmend]

Not fun, hope your back in the swing of things soon. there has been some crud going around recently, took me almost 2 weeks to get back to square one.

MM

[DarrellS]

Work is finally slowing down some so I have had a little time to get back to work on the NorthWind. I finished sanding the interior to night and layed the fiberglass in the boat.



It was still early so I said what the heck and started epoxying the fiberglass. It feels good to finally have time to get back to boat building.

[Dogpaddlin]

Glad to see you are still alive and the Nothwind is looking great!

[bowgarguide]

Looking goodddddddddddd.
Ron

[DarrellS]

Trimmed all of excess fiberglass off tonight and applied second coat of epoxy to the interior. No pics looks just like it did yesterday. I am still hoping to start the deck on Sunday if everything works out.