And So it Begins . . . Knottybuoyz' New Project

[hummingway]

100 degrees!!! That can't be much fun.

[knottybuoyz]

Originally Posted by hummingway

100 degrees!!! That can't be much fun.

I can get it down to the mid 80's with the fans in about 20 mins or so. Besides I'm just acclimatizing myself for those long winters in the Caribbean.

[knottybuoyz]

Update: Supplies received. Boatbuilding will begin again shortly. Standby.

[knottybuoyz]

Frames A and B glassed.



Frame A (shield shape) will face into the anchor locker. The reverse side will get a lighter fabric because it'll face into the v-berth.



This is the heavy 33 oz/yd Vectorply that caused us difficulty before. This time I really soaked the ply first and gave it some time to setup a bit. Then we hit it with lots of epoxy and let it soak in. It takes a lot longer to thoroughly wet out this heavy stuff. Patience is definitely required when working with this stuff.

We'll see how it goes tomorrow when the peel ply comes off.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

FYI- I've always been told not to fold fiberglass for structural use due to the sharp bending of the glass will rupture some of the fibers. And if one has to lay glass into a sharp corner then to use the 1 oz. stuff with several layers at 45º to each other.

Would it not be easier and quicker to fillet sharp corners....

[Capt Phil]

Lookin'good, Knottybuoyz... posting your progress regularly in really appreciated... cheers, Capt Phil

[knottybuoyz]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Would it not be easier and quicker to fillet sharp corners....

Definitely. The corners will get epoxy glued when the bulkheads are installed. A nice radius to ease the transition. The structural joints are 12 oz biaxial tape and the cosmetic ones are 6 oz plain weave.

[knottybuoyz]

These are the two panels we did today. Pretty good results. The light spots are where it's just a little dry. Not a big deal. These are structural parts so nobody will ever see them once the boat is assembled.





Frames C, D, E & F stacked up. Doesn't look like much right now but that was a helluva lotta work.

[Nauticatarcher]

You'll find it easier to trim off excess cloth if you do it before its fully hard

[knottybuoyz]

Originally Posted by Nauticatarcher

You'll find it easier to trim off excess cloth if you do it before its fully hard

Absolutely. I always do that. A sharp chisel makes short work of it. The 33 oz Vectorply is hard to trim anytime.

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by knottybuoyz

Absolutely. I always do that. A sharp chisel makes short work of it. The 33 oz Vectorply is hard to trim anytime.

I found that the knife that the sheet flooring (linoleum) guys used, did a good job, just before the full cure. The knife has a parrot beak shape to the blade, which allows a sawing motion if necessary.
Project looks great.

[knottybuoyz]

Sometimes having the best of tools doesn't guarantee a perfect job. The Admiral and I were glassing some more panels last night. The aft main bulkhead between the pilot house and the cockpit. It's an exposed part and I wanted it to come out nice. We followed the routine we've done for the others. Her dispensing the epoxy and me spreading it out. Using the Sticky Stuff dispenser this is pretty easy especially when you use one of the static mixing tubes. Just pump and go.



Well last night the hardener reservoir (on the left) ran out. Lori didn't catch it and likely the last batch she pumped out was only resin (reservoir on the right) with no hardener. The hardener reservoir is opaque so there's no way to know how much is in it unless you look every once in awhile or the resin reservoir gets down low. They'd theoretically only be at the same level if you put exactly the 2:1 ratio into them in the first place.

So this morning when I went out to have a look there were horrendous bumps all over and as soon as I ran my hand over the peelply I knew we were in trouble. Sticky uncured epoxy resin everywhere.

So I did a google search and found a few things to try to salvage this part without having to strip it down (I'd likely cut two new pieces and start over from scratch). Right now I've tried brushing on some hardener and working it in with the bubble buster and left it to bake.



If that works out I'll likely be able to salvage the part. The upper section above the windows and door have to come off. They were epoxied last and have no hardener in them at all.

So I've added a little reminder to anybody who uses Mr. Sticky Stuff to check constantly the levels in the tanks before pumping.

On a brighter note some more shiny stuff arrived today.



I'm going to go fondle the new shiny stuff. Maybe that'll make me feel better!

[knottybuoyz]

I have a question about these chocks for the danforth anchor. I've never had these before and am not quite sure how they work.



If I set the anchor in the chocks like this the tips sit well in their holders.





The bolt on the shank holder keeps the anchor held by the tips and the bolt.



The crown sits like this.



The way I have it setup it has to be this way to get the anchor out. If I do it so the crown sits like this.....



Then the tips are free of their holders. Anybody familiar with these and how they are supposed to be setup?

[knottybuoyz]

This mornings session in the Big Blue Boat Shed went a little better than the other day. I flipped the panel and did a little sanding of the epoxy over flow and wiped it down. Laid out and cut the glass and peel ply.



I've read some stuff, good reviews, of these rollers (Bestt Liebco Tru-Pro Frieze). Everything I've read they're supposed to be very good for epoxy and from this mornings session I definitely have to agree.



I'd conservatively estimate I used 1/3 less epoxy on the same size panel using the same weight glass. The rollers allowed me to quickly and easily work the epoxy into the glass. Any puddles were easy to pick up and move elsewhere. The little nubbies on the rollers do their job quickly and efficiently. I'll give them Two Thumbs Up!

The results of this mornings labours, epoxy reservoirs filled and mixed properly is damn near perfect. (we'll see tomorrow when the peel ply comes off) but so far it looks really good!



Standby....

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by knottybuoyz

I have a question about these chocks for the danforth anchor. I've never had these before and am not quite sure how they work.


Then the tips are free of their holders. Anybody familiar with these and how they are supposed to be setup?

With the shank in the lock, the two tips and the fork should be snug on the anchor. When you unlock the shank and lift it upwards it pulls the tips out and then the anchor can be lifted out of the fork.