Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Strip: fiberglassing help?
By:Luciano Burtini
Date: 7/18/2009, 1:06 am

Okay, this question will mark me as an obvious newbie, but so be it. I am getting close to finishing my cedar strip kayak and have been applying the fiberglass. I am using 6oz cloth and West Systems 105/207. The fiberglassing is going pretty good, but I am working outdoors in 35+ (95+) degree weather. I have been trying to work in the evenings as the temperature is falling to prevent outgassing. The issue that I am encountering is that each time I put on a coat of epoxy, between the trapped bugs (lots of bugs) and just plain old rough spots, I am forced to sand. After I sand, the hull takes on the dull look of a sanded boat.

My question, when I am happy with the amount of epoxy, do I have to get one final coat on the boat with no subsequent sanding to bring back the shine, or will a final sand followed by application of spar varnish also restore the shine? I was thinking of a wet sand before varnishing. I am starting to feel like I am chasing my tail...

Thanks for any help.

Messages In This Thread

Strip: fiberglassing help?
Luciano Burtini -- 7/18/2009, 1:06 am
Re: Strip: fiberglassing help?
Charles Robinson -- 7/20/2009, 8:55 pm
Re: Strip: fiberglassing help?
Luciano Burtini -- 7/20/2009, 10:07 pm
Re: Strip: fiberglassing help?
Allan -- 7/18/2009, 1:50 am
Re: Strip: fiberglassing help?
Luciano Burtini -- 7/18/2009, 11:42 am
Re: Strip: fiberglassing help?
William Cruz -- 7/18/2009, 10:37 pm