86 SN rebuild

Ranger wrote: I just spoke with U.S. Composites and according to them. I was doing too much too fast. Simple enough. I just need to slow down. Jeff

For those of us taking notes, can you give a rough idea of how long you were waiting in-between layers, and how long USC recommended?

I agree with Tim with the bonding but you do need to let the previous layer resin "kick" slightly so it's starting to harden up before you lay in a layer over it.

I have to agree with Tim and Pete since they're both Poobies. I started my learning curve on the slow side and learned what worked as I went. Temp, humidity, hardener, and your wife's general attitude will affect hardening time...in more ways than one!

I spent a good bit of time on the phone with Billy discussing the importance of 'keeping it green'(Thanks again Doc!). All that means is the difference between chemical bonding and adhesion. When you're planning to work on a stringer, try do do it all in the same run. Maintain the tack between the layers and it cures as a unit. Otherwise each layer is only glued to the next.

In smaller and less structural areas, 2,3, or even 4 layers in one 'set' makes good sense.

And I haven't seen much talk about amine blush in my e-mail. Yall must have that figured out.

It looks as though the recent rain has canceled all baseball games for the weekend. So, it looks as though I might get a full day to work on the stringers. I'm hoping that I have something to report on Monday.

Also, I want to share a story from last weekend. My son and I took off late Saturday to fish. On the way home early Monday morning (I was going to drop him off at school on the way home) we ran into a rain/snow storm coming through Campo. I slowed down to about 45, when my truck started sliding from the right lane across all lanes towards the left side of the freeway. I could see my bass boat out the side window trying to pass us. I threw it in 4 wheel drive trying to gain control. I then started spinning with the boat still in tow. But this time we were sliding to the slow lane again. Again, I could see the boat out the side window. I told my son to hang on, as we went off the freeway (slow lane side) and hit a huge hill. Thankfully we hit a hill, because there are lots of cliffs in this area. Once we hit the hill, I gassed it and jerked the boat out of traffic. Now we were sitting on the right side of the freeway, facing the wrong direction, but safe from traffic.

The boat is what saved us. It came around and hit the right rear quarter panel, but as the bow hit the truck, it stop the trailer from completely going around. If it was a flat bed, we would of been toast.

Pretty scary.

Amazing, no damage to the boat and only $1,500 damage to the truck.

Jeff

you got lucky on that one... Glad all is ok..

And I just went to traffic court yesterday because I rear ended someone due to ice on the road. It does happen, but still, it was my fault for not driving correctly for conditions. I feel we've all done it!! In my case as well as most, it's really a "wake up call".

BTW, I got off because the person I hit didn't show up in court!   

In discussing the layups whether you use cloth, mat, bio...does it matter how thick the final layup is compared to the factory that was a 1/4 inch thick on the stringers? Does it have to be that thick?

Jeff,
I see no reason you can't put the boat back on the trailer after you get all the stringer work done. Go for it!!!

im about to order my fiber glass stuff for my boat but how much mill fiber and phenolic microballons should i order? 5qts of both seems a little to much

what is fairing?

i was gonna order that chopped strand but can i just use the epoxy mat tape instead of the chopped strand, as long as i pull apart what i need from the roll of epoxy mat? sorry for the thread jacking. ill move over to my thread

As we are moving along, I'm wondering what others are doing with the drain holes in the stringers. My intentions are to put a layer or 2 of cloth in them. But what are others doing? I'm sure a layer of cloth is going to be a challenge, but I don't want any uncovered wood.

What do you think?

Jeff

Epoxy *might* stick to the PVC, but Im not sure what the point of doing that would be.

The purpose is to completely seal off the wood from any water contact. Wrapping the underside of the drains with a layer or 2 of cloth seems like a good idea to me. Its obviously too late now, but doing this before the stringer goes into the boat would make this a simple task. Sorry to rub it in- just thinking out loud!


If you cut your piece of cloth like this, it may not be too tough to install.

Jeff,
Cut your glass just as Tim pictured. Insert it in the half moon cut out along with a balloon. Inflate the balloon and it will hole the lay up in place inside the cut out.