Materials needed

Originally the boat was made with polyester resin. Epoxy resin is absolutely that much better for many reason. Number one being that it is not hygroscopic.

Does everyone use epoxy resin instead of fiberglass resin?? Can regular fiberglass resin be used, or is the epoxy resin that much better.

Vondy
I looked at the Mustang thread, but most of you photos are gone. I would of liked seeing them. Sounds like you did a great job on your Mustang.

You think your revised material list was close, except there was too much biax ?
I'm thinking on the plywood floor just one layer of cloth on both sides and ends. This should be enough to seal the wood up good I would think. Is there any reason to use more or a different material??

Roym wrote: I do have a question. Once you get your stringers cut to fit, do you just soak them up with the CPES,let em dry and then bed them in

This option.

Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealant. Magical stuff. You'll want to put several coats on every piece of wood before it goes back in the boat. It will help prevent rot in the future and seems to help the fiberglass bond to the wood better. IMHO

I know everyone knows this but me. What is CPES?????

Keeganino wrote: If you read through the threads you will see that a typical rebuild takes 10 gallons of epoxy.

On a typical 16' rebuild, Id say that was pretty close. I bet that he'd be more likely to put in a 2nd order for more than to have some extra left over though.

Roy, youre going to have to decide on a layup schedule on the stringers and floor before you can figure out a material list for the glass. I put a pretty good list together for our Barefoot Nautique, which I shared here. I also detailed my planned glass schedules on the mains, secondaries, ribs and floor. We stuck to it pretty close. You can probably detune the glass list by 25-50% based on your smaller boat and the fact that youre not putting in as many ribs or doing any laminating. I am afraid to check my resin supply, I fear we ended up using closer to 20 gallons.

I got some tint for the epoxy that I never used on the bilge, but Ive used it one some other things and it seems to make a nice very durable finish coat. I ordered 5 gal of epoxy so I had quite a bit left over.

Roym wrote: TR, I understand what you are saying now. I'm thinking of just painting the bilge.

Have you actually given it much thought? Or are you just defaulting to what you assume to be the easiest solution? I can give you a few reasons why you may want to reconsider based on personal experience.

Its a ways down the list on priority at this point, but something to consider if youre trying to limit yourself to one fiberglass order!

Roym wrote: What color bilge paint is a little premature at this point.

I didnt ask what color, I asked what material you planned to finish with. If epoxy or gelcoat, you'll want to account for that in your materials order.

Im with you on a foamless rebuild. I would recommend adding some ribs and bulkheads perpendicular to the main stringers that the factory did not use. This will lend a little more strength to the hull-floor structure, as well as give you good floor support (especially at the seams). They will add to the required materials (glass and resin) though.

Well my plan is to replace all the wood in the hull except maybe the rudder plate. If that is bad it will go too. I do plan on replacing the lift ring wood and the pieces where the exhaust exits the hull.

What color bilge paint is a little premature at this point.

I haven't cut out the floor yet, but it's no secret the wood under it is mush.

My plan is "No foam" and a plywood floor. I might be way off base but I see the foam as being the cause of stringer rot in the first place. It appears to trap water,causing rot. I would prefer that it be open so the water can drain and be pumped out.

I really have no clue about how to do this. I assume from reading once the stringers are cut you wrap them with fiberglass cloth and "epoxy" them instead of using fiberglass resin. Then bed them in using epoxy mixed with a thicking product. As far as after this I guess it is epoxy and FG tape. I'm not sure how it goes after this, guess I'll keep reading.

I plan on using Douglas fir for the main stringers, as that seems to be the first choice. My son has called around, and said we can get it here in Florida, but might be a special order. I am open for other suggestions on this, if there is another choice. I have 35 Cypress trees in my back yard and a chainsaw . Just kidding!!

I guess I will use pine and plywood for the rest of the wood.

Thanks
Roy

I figured that may be the case, but those questions should spur some thought, if nothing else. In general, it makes sense to complete the design before you order parts.

That wouldnt be too hard for us to put together for you, but some more details on how you plan to rebuild would be helpful.

-What material are you using for the stringers? Wood? Composite?
-Are you refoaming? If not, are you adding any other structural members in addition to the original stringers?
-What material are you using for the floor?
-Have you decided on a material (epoxy vs. poly vs. vinyl)?
-Have you decided on a layup schedule on the mains, secondaries, ribs (if any), floor, bulkheads?
-Are you replacing the other wood in the hull? Lifting ring backers, rudder port, bilge pump mount, etc.
-Have you decided on a bilge finish yet? Paint vs. gel vs. tinted epoxy, etc.