How much fiberglass and resin

[ondarvr]

Re: How much fiberglass and resin

Had to go to my local "transom/stringer/floor" repair shop the other day to pick up a fiberglass roller and the guy looked at me like I was crazy when I told him I was using 1708 for the transom and stringers on my project. "I don't think you need biax for that project", he even went as far as to say I didn't need mat at all... just CSM or cloth. I explained I was using poly resin, and he said that didn't matter.... Either all the iBoats posts I read were wrong, I'm confused, or this guy doesn't know fiberglass..

Old school was a thick heavy laminate with chop or mat, plus roving, it worked and held up for many decades, no engineers were involved, so it was just a guess as to what laminate strength was needed. These products were typically overbuilt and sturdy, but heavy.

Now engineers are involved and each laminate is designed for the stresses it may encounter and each fabric is chosen for it properties. These products typically perform better, are lighter and stronger where needed.

Since most old boats were overbuilt you can get away with some sloppy or poorly done repairs and they still hold up. Most of the boats discussed here had stringers and transoms that had turned to pulp, yet they were still used every week until a soft spot was found in the floor, or the owner saw a crack in the transom. By replacing the rotten plywood and then using at least some glass, the repairs tend to hold up long enough for the owner to sell the boat and get a bigger one, or lose interest and park it under a tree.

What it comes down to is that mat and roving will work for most repairs, 1708 is a nice product and works well, but isn't required.

 

[109jb]

Re: How much fiberglass and resin

Here are a few pics so far.

This is the boat right now

This is the reason I bought it

Here is the current condition of the interior. As you can see I only have about a 4' x 4' piece of floor cut out so far.

I chunked out a little foam and the top seems dry, but I'm sure that as I get close to the hull it will be soaked.

Here is a shot of the transom. Thankfully, the way it is built the wood part of the transom only goes down to the step you see in the photo. The water level inside the hull has to get above this step to get to the wood. I already drilled a few test holes inside into the transom and all that came out was dry solid wood.

I'll be changing the boat from a pure pleasure boat to a sort of fish and ski boat. I'll put a live well in the back and will have 2 swivel seats for the driver and passenger, and 3 non swivel seats over a box at the back of the boat. The box will house the livewell, batteries, and have a storage space. The front of the boat will have the bow seating and then I plan a removable box that will fill the walkway up front to provide a flat fishing platform in the bow.

 

[rucaradio]

Re: How much fiberglass and resin

I don't envy you... You were EXACTLY where I was last October. I got all the decking yanked out then the weather turned and I didn't have a chance to dig back into the project until about a month ago. I just finished grinding last night (after two weeks) and just got my colossal mess cleaned up today. I sincerely hope the worst of this project is over - working with new fiberglass and resin seems MUCH more appetizing than grinding out old. I've got pics and will post them in a minute.

 

[109jb]

Re: How much fiberglass and resin

Yeah. Its going to be a lot of work, but the end goal is to have a boat the way I want it. I could buy one that is close, but the cheapest I've found that would fit the bill was $8K. I figure I'll have around $3k in this one when done.

As far as getting the old out I will be using a combination of tools to accomplish it. Circular saw, grinder, sawzall are the primary tools, but I'm also may try an electric chainsaw for some of it. I'll get it done though. I know that the demo will be the biggest pain.

 

[chrishayes]

Re: How much fiberglass and resin

You know you seem like a pretty sensible engineer. I like that. Not typical. Your last post of your "compromise" sounds completely reasonable. I was not telling you how to do it and why I was providing you with how I did it and why. To each his own and with a engineer involved I am surprised you arent talking about carbon fiber and space suit materials! Congrats on the boat find. It looks fantastic for the price. Wish I would have picked up something that nice for that price. Good luck with your build and keep us up on what your doing.

Oh, and ondarvr, you seem to be one of the coolest most level headed guys out there. Thank you for your presence here.

 

[109jb]

Re: How much fiberglass and resin

You know you seem like a pretty sensible engineer. I like that. Not typical. Your last post of your "compromise" sounds completely reasonable. I was not telling you how to do it and why I was providing you with how I did it and why. To each his own and with a engineer involved I am surprised you arent talking about carbon fiber and space suit materials! Congrats on the boat find. It looks fantastic for the price. Wish I would have picked up something that nice for that price. Good luck with your build and keep us up on what your doing.

Oh, and ondarvr, you seem to be one of the coolest most level headed guys out there. Thank you for your presence here.

Thank you. I pride myself on being a non-typical engineer. Before I became an engineer I was on the shop floor as a machinist for 10 years. During that time I had to try to tell the just out of school engineers that their fancy part that looks great in the solid modeling program can't be machined. When I later went back to college and then into industry as an engineer I never forgot my years as a machinist.

I guess that my way of thinking is that there may be different ways to skin a cat, but if the end goal is to have a skinned cat then that is what matters the most. With this boat of mine I figure that the manufacturer did a decent job and if it had been taken care of properly there would be no problems with it. So, getting it back to as good as new is my end goal with cost consideration thrown in. No need to make it better than new unless doing so doesn't cost any additional money. That is my motivation.

Anyway, I just found out from the wife that my weekend plans aren't what I thought they were because she volunteered me for something else on Saturday. When I make some progress I will be sure to let everyone know.

 

[chrishayes]

Re: How much fiberglass and resin

Yeah, I am a commercial electrical project manager and I have spent 9 years doing electrical work from blueprints and have vowed that if I ever get the money and motivation to become an electrical engineer I will make some poor electricians day by designing a system that is "real world" doable. There are sooooo many engineers that design systems that they have never even seen...let alone used or tried to install. It is difficult not to blame you guys for being "idiots".lol. Well brotha keep the pace and get r done!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: How much fiberglass and resin

Hey 109jb, good to see you back on here. I always really liked that boat of yours and am glad to see you redoing it. I also like your fish/ski ideas. Looking forward to watching your progress.

 

[109jb]

Re: How much fiberglass and resin

Hey 109jb, good to see you back on here. I always really liked that boat of yours and am glad to see you redoing it. I also like your fish/ski ideas. Looking forward to watching your progress.

Thanks. Its good to be back. Snowmobiling and car restoration have been taking a lot of my time, but it's now boating season so time to get on that boat. I really have to get it done now since I just sold my Starcraft and am down to just this boat.