First time fiberglass user, suggestions welcomed

[Gryphon]

I plan on reinforcing the mounting points on my Bayliner 195 for a wakeboard tower. Here are my plans, please let me know if I am off base prior to starting.

i) Using PL premium adhesive to attach the 1/2" baltic birch strips to the back of the mounting points. Round the cornors of the wood (prior to mounting).
ii) Mix resin and hardner and the paint the wood with it.
iii) Dip the cloth into the resin and place over the wood.
iv) Paint the cloth again with resin.
v) Repeat a 2nd time for an additional layer.

Allow to harden for 1 week prior to mounting tower?

Since these points are impossible to see, I am not going to do any sanding, is that an issue when applying a 2nd coat?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Mark42]

Re: First time fiberglass user, suggestions welcomed

Sounds like a good plan. I'm not familiar with baltic birch, but if its a hardwood it should work. The second coat of glass should go on before the first coat is fully cured. If this is polyester resin, that means in a few minutes, if you are using epoxy resin, generally within 8 hours is still maximum adhesion. Also remember to wash off anime blush if using epoxy between coats.

 

[jonesg]

Re: First time fiberglass user, suggestions welcomed

dipping the cloth in resin sounds very messy, I brush a coat on and apply cloth then another coat then more cloth and resin.
Cosmetics not being an issue, I'd do it all in one shot with no sanding.

If you get poly resin without wax you're better off than home depot type.

 

[Gryphon]

Re: First time fiberglass user, suggestions welcomed

To drill the holes for the tower (and SX tabs) through the fibreglass and plywood, what kind of drill bits should I use?

Thanks

 

[redfury]

Re: First time fiberglass user, suggestions welcomed

Not so much of a matter of what bit to use, but what precautions to take. TAPE the spot you want to drill through with a couple of layers of masking tape. I would use a wood boring drill bit with a point on it as it's going to act more like a forstner bit and shave it's way into the boat instead of screw itself in. I drilled some holes in my boat recently with a standard 1/2 inch drill bit and it did a nice job of chipping and ripping the edges of the glass on me. Smaller bits are going to be less of a headache, but that bigger bit grabbed onto the fiberglass and tweaked the drill in my hands a bit.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: First time fiberglass user, suggestions welcomed

In my opinion, the hardest part of glassing is the mix. Here again all sorts of variables. Directions tell you catalyst is exact amount but if you mix it all in on a 85degree day you had better get the lead out cause it will kick on you in no time. An ole timer once told me never put the mix in a small container because the heat produced in curing speeds up the process rapidly. I like to use a metal roller pan now for large areas of flat work. Oh, buy the rollers (shortest nap possible) at the cheapest place you can cause it's a throw away item anyway. And take them off the handle before they set up. Vinyl gloves great to use and acetone won't eat through too fast.

Good luck and work with small amounts at first till you get a feel for it, and remember that sanding out mistakes isn't the easiest when it comes to working with fiberglass.

 

[jonesg]

Re: First time fiberglass user, suggestions welcomed

In my opinion, the hardest part of glassing is the mix. Here again all sorts of variables. Directions tell you catalyst is exact amount but if you mix it all in on a 85degree day you had better get the lead out cause it will kick on you in no time. An ole timer once told me never put the mix in a small container because the heat produced in curing speeds up the process rapidly. I like to use a metal roller pan now for large areas of flat work. Oh, buy the rollers (shortest nap possible) at the cheapest place you can cause it's a throw away item anyway. And take them off the handle before they set up. Vinyl gloves great to use and acetone won't eat through too fast.

Good luck and work with small amounts at first till you get a feel for it, and remember that sanding out mistakes isn't the easiest when it comes to working with fiberglass.

ditto, I use a plastic trough for anything over a quart, mixing in a bucket or can can be trouble with larger amounts unless its poured out immediately.