: Hi,

: I'm currently buildng a ply TK1 (similar to a K1 racing kayak, but a little
: more stable - an Australian racing class).

: I was planning on adding graphite to the lower hull panels, as it's 3mm ply
: with 4oz glass on the outside. Low weight is key. But I paddle in rivers
: with some flotsam/jetsam and snags, and hitting something at high speed is
: bound ot happen. I can't afford kevlar or carbon fibre, so was going to go
: the graphite route.

: However, I understand the graphite is mixed into epoxy? Is this correct?

: So, does 3 more layers of epoxy - in addition to the 2-3 for wetting out the
: glass cloth - add much weight? Could the graphite be added to the varnish
: for the same effect? Or does it need to be in the epoxy?

: If it is in epoxy, can I get away with less coats for wetting out, or do I
: still need to do this fully?

: Thanks,
: Darren
: Melbourne, Australia

The graphite coat is actually a mixture of the epoxy, graphite powder and silica powder. The graphite makes it slippery the silica makes it tough. The weight is entirely in the epoxy, the two additives weigh virtually nothing. Didn't weight the epoxy when I did it, it's on a NDK Greenlander, slightly lighter than a battleship so it didn't matter. Figure on a pound or two, not alot of extra weight for the protection.

Bill H.