Fiberglass Mat for Floor

[smitty112233]

I bought some fiberglass mat on ebay that is, I think, 24 oz mat. Is this to heavy to use for the floor or will it be ok and just take up a lot of resin. If it is too much what is better to use? I can't really find any info on what weight to use.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[crab bait]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

what is the purpose/what are you trying to do with the floor..??

 

[qaztwo]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

I bought a crazy amount of 24 oz roving on ebay. When I finished the transom and stringers still had around 20 yrds left so I decided to do the floor in 24 also. First time using glass and resin thought the heavy the better. Being roving I did not use as much resin as you are going to use, but for the floor was around a gallon and a half on a 20 foot boat. I will say this, the floor is as tough as nails.

 

[prockvoan]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

That 24 oz matt will build up around 3/16",you will be using alot of resin,but it will work.Good side of it,the plywood that you use,you could drop down to 1/4".

 

[BillP]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

I don't think they make 24oz mat. It is probably roven woven. Mat is measured by sq ft so 3oz is actually 27oz if calculated (sq yd)like woven roven is.

 

[Eggkr8]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

Sorry for the minor hijack. I am also at the point where I need to source the fiberglass for my floor (16" v hull closed bow). I was planning on using 0.5" pressure treated plywood (original was 3/8ths untreated). I just found a good length of 5.5 oz cloth 48" wide. Here are my questions<br />1) is 5.5 oz cloth good for this application<br />2) at the widest my floor is like 52" and I want to cloth the floor to the sides with an additional 8" or so of fiberlgass. Is it ok to have a seam where the finger glass mats butt against each other or do I truly need one continuous pice for some reason<br /><br />again sory for the hijack, but I thought it might be applicable to your questions

 

[BillP]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

Originally posted by Eggkr8:<br /> Sorry for the minor hijack. I am also at the point where I need to source the fiberglass for my floor (16" v hull closed bow). I was planning on using 0.5" pressure treated plywood (original was 3/8ths untreated). I just found a good length of 5.5 oz cloth 48" wide. Here are my questions<br />1) is 5.5 oz cloth good for this application<br />2) at the widest my floor is like 52" and I want to cloth the floor to the sides with an additional 8" or so of fiberlgass. Is it ok to have a seam where the finger glass mats butt against each other or do I truly need one continuous pice for some reason<br /><br />again sory for the hijack, but I thought it might be applicable to your questions

It is for ding protection and 5 oz will give plenty of protection. Normal glassing practice is to overlap and feather the seams smooth. Glass it first and then come back with a resin fill coat. It fills between the weave and leaves a sanding surface so you don't sand glass off (except at the overlap).

 

[Eggkr8]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

I know there are debates about resin vs. poly and that resins may not bond well to poly. Is there a way of testing to determine which I have on my hull? I wouldn't want to put in new floors to only have them delaminate from the sidewalls, let along what happens to a delaminated transom!<br /><br /><br />I was originally going to do epoxy and call it done, but then I just compared the prices of poly vs. epoxy!

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

Epoxy will bond to poly, gelcoat or epoxy (make sure the surface prepared). Poly and gelcoat will not bond to epoxy.

 

[Eggkr8]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

Hi Dan,<br /><br />Thanks for the input. that still leaves my question of how do I know which my boat is (1964 16' runabout) epoxy or poly? If a boat has gelcoat on it, does that mean that it has to be poly?<br /><br />cheers

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

Most all boats have been made of polyester resin.

 

[BillP]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

1964 - polyester for sure.

 

[Eggkr8]

Re: Fiberglass Mat for Floor

My mind and my wallet thank you all!