cloth and paint vs. tape and epoxy
Please disregard the following if you don't agree that being cheap is
a virtue <grin>...
I just had a good experience, while adding some floatation chambers
to my 14' rowboat, a Jim Michalak "Roar". I wanted some buoyancy for
safety in this fast lightweight rowboat, so I added about 3 cubic
feet total in new bow and stern chambers. I cut to fit, and encased
some 2" thick building insulation stryrofoam encased with thin luan
door skin plywood [3'x7' cheaper than the 4'x8' sheets].
I decided that these new chambers need to shed some water to delay
the rot, I first considered fiberglass seam tape [$0.80/ft] and
polyester resin [$28/gal] but gagged at the price. Instead, I ripped
up an old dress shirt into 3" strips. I applied a first coat of
paint on the edge seams of the plywood chambers using some left over
house paint. I then embedded the cloth in the wet paint and painted
second coat of paint on top of the cloth.
The next day and even now, one month later, the cloth is quite
tightly adhered to the seams. Water appears to entirely run off. If
the seams ever come loose [no evidence of that yet], I plan to add
another layer as needed.
I just saved perhaps $40 on my el cheapo boat, which also happens to
be a useful, fast, light weight and fun boat. Cheapness is a virtue.
Bruce Hallman
a virtue <grin>...
I just had a good experience, while adding some floatation chambers
to my 14' rowboat, a Jim Michalak "Roar". I wanted some buoyancy for
safety in this fast lightweight rowboat, so I added about 3 cubic
feet total in new bow and stern chambers. I cut to fit, and encased
some 2" thick building insulation stryrofoam encased with thin luan
door skin plywood [3'x7' cheaper than the 4'x8' sheets].
I decided that these new chambers need to shed some water to delay
the rot, I first considered fiberglass seam tape [$0.80/ft] and
polyester resin [$28/gal] but gagged at the price. Instead, I ripped
up an old dress shirt into 3" strips. I applied a first coat of
paint on the edge seams of the plywood chambers using some left over
house paint. I then embedded the cloth in the wet paint and painted
second coat of paint on top of the cloth.
The next day and even now, one month later, the cloth is quite
tightly adhered to the seams. Water appears to entirely run off. If
the seams ever come loose [no evidence of that yet], I plan to add
another layer as needed.
I just saved perhaps $40 on my el cheapo boat, which also happens to
be a useful, fast, light weight and fun boat. Cheapness is a virtue.
Bruce Hallman