Help!!! I need your advice on restoring a 15 ' fiberglass boat!!!

akick

Recruit
Joined
Feb 24, 2014
Messages
1
I am currently in the process of restoring a 15 'x 4' fiberglass boat. When I bought it the floor and stringers were rotten and had to be removed. I would like your opinion on what fiberglassing materials any of you would recommend. My plans are to use 3/4" plywood to lay my stringer down the center. I will also use it in the two shorter ribs on the sides of the center. My plan is to use a 6 oz woven cloth with the US Composite 635 thin epoxy with medium hardener to glass in the stringers and to use on the floor. I was thinking a 1/2 sheet of plywood for the floor. I am new to the fiberglassing world. I am wondering if I am going a little overkill on this size of a boat? Would 4 oz be better? I would also like any recommendations on what type of plywood I should use. Do I really need marine grade for this small of a project?
 

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Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,929
Re: Help!!! I need your advice on restoring a 15 ' fiberglass boat!!!

Welcome to iBoats!
You don't have to use epoxy. The boat is made from polyester resin and Poly will be more than ample to do the repairs and it's less than 1/2 the cost of epoxy. USC 435 Laminating Resin is what most of the guys use. You'd then use CSM and 1708 biaxial fabric to do the repairs. The Exterior Grade of Arauco Brand Plywood is an excellent wood for your boat. A lot of Lowe's and HD carry it. If you decide to go with the epoxy, you'll need to use a minimum of 8.5 oz fabric on the stringers and most use 17oz. Epoxy will almost double your restoration time and it's hard to work with on vertical surfaces. These two links will give you some additional info...

"Fabricating Decks, Stringers, and Transoms"


(Click the pic to Download and View the PDF File)
View attachment MaterialsList.pdf

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