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  1. drewpster

    Epoxy to laminate cores Poly to cover?

    I need to build my longitudinal stringers and my transom by gluing two layers of ply together to get the proper thickness. The transom will be two sheets of ply glued together then glassed into the fiberglass hull. My main center stringer is 12 feet long. I will need to scarf and laminate two...
  2. drewpster

    Transom core Overkill?

    I am finally getting some supplies together to put my little tri-hull back together. I have my resin. The glass is on the way and the wood for the transom and the stringers. A question about my transom came to mind. The original transom was built using a single 3/4" piece of plywood. The upper...
  3. drewpster

    Timber lumber

    My little tri-hull project has three main stringers under the deck. The center stringer along the keel runs the full length from bow stern. (about 12 ft. long) It is a single piece of lumber that was shaped and glassed into the hull. Originally I intended to replace the center stringer using...
  4. drewpster

    Epoxy And CSM?

    I heard somewhere that chop strand mat cannot be used with epoxy resin due to the binder used to produce CSM. I have a tight turn I need to lay up. Is this true? If I cannot use CSM what should I use for my repair? I need to repair an outside corner.
  5. drewpster

    Paint or Gelcoat on trailered Boat?

    It time to make some decisions about the finish I am going to put on the bottom of my tri-hull. It is flipping time and I need to make some repairs to the bottom. Originally I intended to paint. I have since become paranoid.:eek: I am concerned about the durability of the paint on a bunk...
  6. drewpster

    Which is the best resin roller?

    I know I need a resin roller to remove bubbles from the layup while it is wet. Which type (or kind) of roller works best for general layup projects? (grooved, un-grooved, length, plastic, metal?) Are the handles made to accept a paint stick or a screw in handle? I may need to get to an area from...
  7. drewpster

    What weight fiberglass do I need?

    Can anyone recommend what weight fiberglass roving and mat I am going to need for the transom and stringers of a 16' tri-hull? I was thinking 1.5 ounce mat and 18 ounce roving. But that is a total guess.
  8. drewpster

    Stringer contact and Hard spots

    OK, explain to me again how bedding stringers in peanut butter is different from bonding stringers to the hull? Seems to me it is the same thing....just thicker glue. Shouldn't the stringers be sitting on something more pliable to prevent hard contact? Ok, disregard this. I found an excellent...
  9. drewpster

    Great info on resin and glass selection

    I was not sure how to approach this so I thought I would post this and see what happens. There is a great post containing information about poly resin and glass selection in oops's "Hull extension" thread. Written by Ondarvr, post no. 90 has concise information about different types of glass...
  10. drewpster

    My tri-hull transom replacement w/ pics

    Ok folks I am joining the ranks of the unfortunate. The tri-hull needs a transom and here's how it goes so far. After getting over the shock and dismay of realizing the transom finally had to go I started by de-rigging. The engine was first to come off. She's old, but she's a runner. Next I...
  11. drewpster

    Controlling Shrinkage

    I have to replace the transom on my tri-hull. :mad: I plan to remove the cap and possibly the inner skin of the transom to access to old core. I plan to replace the old wood with new marine ply and replace the inner skin. I may either totally reglass the inner skin or glass the old skin back in...
  12. drewpster

    Stress cracks vs. gel coat spiders

    Here is a good example of stress cracks in gel coat in the first pic. This is a corner at the splashwell of my transom. Notice how the major lines parallel? When ground into, I will find the cracking probably extends into the laminate underneath the gel coat. If you look closely in the next pic...
  13. drewpster

    A home build stand that works

    I built this outboard stand from some plans I got online. I can't remember where. (in here maybe) The design was done by D. Hayes Jr. I made it a bit larger than the plan called for and added a shelf. It is a good design if you are looking for one. The pics make the base look as if it is...
  14. drewpster

    Transom Repair- Capping vs. skinning

    OK folks its time to revisit the rotten transom repair subject. I have to replace the transom of my tri-hull. If I were opting for a complete restore of this boat I would remove the cap and cut the floor out, replace all the wood cores and coat everything. This is not that situation. The floor...
  15. drewpster

    Engine lift details w/ pics

    I finally got it done! I have been working towards this for a long time. Finally things came together. Here is how things went. First I set the gantry to height. It is a scary 12 feet from the ground to the beam! After removing the canopy, un-bolting everything and rigging the leveler and chain...
  16. drewpster

    Engine Lift w/ Pics

    I thought You all might like to see what I finally got done today.
  17. drewpster

    Stringer Pre-prep

    After a thorough cleaning, I need to start removing the cores of the stringers in my old tug. They are 40 years old and look to consist of wooden cores covered in heavy roving. I intend to cap the stringers, remove the cores and re-core them. Hopefully I will do this by re-coring the fiberglass...
  18. drewpster

    A good De- Greaser

    I am finally in the beginning stages of replacing the stringers in my old tug. I need to use a good degreasing cleaner to do the initial cleaning of the bilge. Everything down there is rough roving. As far as I can tell no mat was used on the top coat of glass so I am cleaning a very rough...
  19. drewpster

    Chrysler M273 V8 advice

    I have an inboard Chrysler in my old tug. The tag ID says the engine is a M273. I understand there is very little difference between the 273 and the 318 engine. I am having a hard time finding any parts listings for the M273, but tons of parts for the 318. I am considering buying a complete long...
  20. drewpster

    Bedliner as a Marine coating

    I have read and heard of many folks using truck bedliner as a coating in different marine applications. Recently I spoke to a person who built his business doing steel boat bottoms. He said that he uses bedliner coating as a final finish after repairing, or "skinning", steel bottom house boats...
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