16ft GW Invader retoration (pics)

[gw1250]

Well I finally feel that I have made enough progress to post some more pictures of the boat. I've got the core layed in good, bonded everywhere, no voids, sanded down even and faired into the existing hull. The corners where the hull meets the balsa have been radius so that the biaxial will take to it well and not pull away. A little touch up sanding and the core can get sealed up and stringers and transom will come next.

[gw1250]

Few more

[gw1250]

Here are some old pictures I came across of the boat in the water. It would sit in the water and take a beating from waves all summer. Not any more!!

[gw1250]

Is one layer of biaxial enough for over the top to seal in the core?

[rjdubiel]

i am going to put 6 oz cloth on last just for a smoother finish and the weave is tighter so the water proofing may be better. but i may change my mind since i have done it a million times so far!

what did you use to mix your resin? i am looking for some kind of mixer or other additive (i am using 404 west sytems now). it takes along time to mix it to a good past for under my core.

looks good and i cannot wait to start finishing mine.

RJ

[gw1250]

i am going to put 6 oz cloth on last just for a smoother finish and the weave is tighter so the water proofing may be better. but i may change my mind since i have done it a million times so far!

what did you use to mix your resin? i am looking for some kind of mixer or other additive (i am using 404 west sytems now). it takes along time to mix it to a good past for under my core.

looks good and i cannot wait to start finishing mine.

RJ

Thanks, this is the best time in rebuilding, you can finally start to see things coming back together, when ripping a boat this far down it can kinda seem like you are getting nowhere! RJ, I mix in west system 406 colloidal silica into west system epoxy resin. The powder is really fine and light so it can be a little difficult to mix but, I mix my silica in the part "B" resin until i get it to about 2/3 the thickness I want it. Then I add the part "A" hardener and finish thickening until i get a paste that is a little thinner than peanut butter, (just so it doesn't fall off the stir stick). Doing it this way also allows you to better mix in the hardener which is essential, and doesn't cut into your working time as much. Also make sure you have enough silica on hand! For what you see in my pictures I had a 5.5 oz container of 406 on hand as well as a spare 1.7 oz container. I think I used all of the 5.5 oz on just laying the core. The top layer weave on biaxial is fairly tight, I thing after it cures I'll sand the edges and rough spots and go over it once more with a roller and some more epoxy to fill and gaps or imperfections.

good luck on your project!

[rjdubiel]

thanks, i never tried to mix the 404 in first then the hardner later. the directions said not to do this but i mix for 10-15 minutes when i do it like the directions say . so i will make sure there is enough 404 around for when i get the core ready for the bag, i wonder if i really need to thicken the mixure as much when i use the vacuum bag i have to fix some other spots in the newer core so i will test there.

thanks again for the help and info.

RJ

[gw1250]

RJ,

I have done the premixing with the part B several times, I do remember the directions saying that, but it does take a long time to get the stuff mixed in. That is why I try to add the hardener before I get to the final thickness, it still mixes in good if you do it that way. I have had nothing but ROCK solid results with this method, so I would not worry too much.

[RONNIE]

looks great!!

[gw1250]

Thanks!

[gw1250]

Got the top layer of biaxial on and the core work is finally done! I went back over it and sanded it lightly then applied another layer of epoxy. Here are a few new picks.

[gw1250]

Here are some pics of the stringers, frames, and transom that will be going together next week. All of the parts were made from less than one sheet of 8 ply 3/4" marine plywood, epoxied and screwed together.

[rjdubiel]

i wish i had enough room in the garage to work on mine over the winter!! looks good. i am not an expert but do you really need the stringers and other pcs that thick? once done you probly nevver notice either way. great progress and keep those pictures going!

RJ

[gw1250]

Yea they probably didn't need to be that thick but they are only 1.5", rock solid and once glassed in this hull is going to be indestructible. The stringers are going to be screwed and epoxied to the frames and the knees will be screwed an epoxied to the stringers, then the transom will also be screwed and epoxied to the knees. After that they will all get glassed in and together. That should seal it up for many years worry free use. The stringers that got pulled out of it where about the same size so I just stuck with it. Thanks for the compliments RJ!

[RONNIE]

a little over kill but if you like it I like it