Ok .. Fiberglass question

[robpoe]

Going to be re-doing the floor in my 16' runabout. <br /><br />Hopefully (and im guessing they will be) the stringers are ok but we'll see when we get in there. <br /><br />What do I need in the way of glass? Mat? Cloth? Woven? Stained? Plexi?<br /><br />How many layers of glass do I need on the floor?<br /><br />planning on using 1/2" exterior ply. Gonna buy it next Monday and let it sit in the garage for a month to make sure it's dry. using epoxy<br /><br />Make sure I have this straight. <br /><br />Coat ply with epoxy. Let (almost) cure. Lay down a layer of glass on the underside. Let almost cure. Mix me up some "peanut butter" and butter the stringers, then put down the floor. Should I screw it down too? Glass tape around the edges (what kind of tape?!?) then do a big layer for the floor to tie it in to the hull better. One layer? Two? More?<br /><br />Do I have it right or wrong?<br /><br />TIA

 

[andy6374]

Re: Ok .. Fiberglass question

There is a many different methods.<br /><br />First, does your boat have an inner liner or was the previous deck (floor) tabbed to the hullsides?<br /><br />Second, away from the sides of the hull, was your deck supported by the stingers or by foam. Lots of boats have stringers that are not as high as the floor and as a result the foam is actually supporting the floor. Either way you could pour some new foam (cause it is probably soaked if the exisiting floor is) or you could build up the stringers to support the floor.<br /><br />Third, don't count on anything not being rotted (like the stringers and transom).<br /><br />As far as answering your question, my 1st and 2nd question will need to be answered before I can help u out here.<br /><br />There is not need to go with epoxy resin, especially on a project of this size. Go with vinylester or polyester resin (that is what the boat is made with). You are looking at at least 10 gallons of resin, so $$$$ will add up way too quick with epoxy. If it makes you feel better you could do the initial soaking of the wood with epoxy, but even that isn't necessary. <br /><br />Go with marine grade fir or some composite like NIDA core for floor. You will want at least 3-4 layers of something like 1708 or 2415, ontop of an initial layer of 1.5oz mat. Not to mention all the tabbing up the sides of the hull. 1708 is great to work with, especially around corners and angles. 2415 is great for straight aways, like a floor. Both of these will suck up the resin like no other.<br /><br />The peanut butter consistency stuff is for making nice fillets between the floor and the hullsides so that when tabbing the glass can make the hard angle.

 

[ed/il]

Re: Ok .. Fiberglass question

Your stringers are probably bad. It is a big job so do it right or you will be doing it again in a few years.