Re: Synthetic fibers (was Wyoming)
I once sheathed a Dutch built edge-glued mahogany sloop with Dynel
(polypropylene) and epoxy resin. This was a keel boat that had been
stored in a heated boathouse and dried out so much that some of the glue
lines had opened up. There was no caulking so the seams wouldn't swell
tight again when afloat and the boat leaked. Since I was applying the
fabric to the bottom as the boat sat upright, I used the Dynel precisely
for the fact that it floats in resin. This characteristic was helpful
when applying fabric from below since it wanted to float up into the
resin rather than out of it. This might not be a helpful characteristic
when working on the top surface. It turned out rather well. I eventually
sold the boat, but it is still in service nearly 30 years later.
I do not know whether polyester fabric floats in the resin or not. I see
that Mark Van Abbema sheathed his Mark V 39 with xynole. I do remember
that the Dynel fuzzed when sanded too agressively.
I came across an interesting site with some test results of impact
behaviour of various fabric/epoxy layups. The site has a link to epoxy
tests containing useful photos of the various brands of epoxy used as clearcoating.
I hope these links don't get chopped up by the Yahoo advertizing!
Vince Chew
http://markvdesigns.tripod.com/boatbuilding/id12.html
http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/Abrasion.htm#xynoleanch
http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/Epoxtest.htm
(polypropylene) and epoxy resin. This was a keel boat that had been
stored in a heated boathouse and dried out so much that some of the glue
lines had opened up. There was no caulking so the seams wouldn't swell
tight again when afloat and the boat leaked. Since I was applying the
fabric to the bottom as the boat sat upright, I used the Dynel precisely
for the fact that it floats in resin. This characteristic was helpful
when applying fabric from below since it wanted to float up into the
resin rather than out of it. This might not be a helpful characteristic
when working on the top surface. It turned out rather well. I eventually
sold the boat, but it is still in service nearly 30 years later.
I do not know whether polyester fabric floats in the resin or not. I see
that Mark Van Abbema sheathed his Mark V 39 with xynole. I do remember
that the Dynel fuzzed when sanded too agressively.
I came across an interesting site with some test results of impact
behaviour of various fabric/epoxy layups. The site has a link to epoxy
tests containing useful photos of the various brands of epoxy used as clearcoating.
I hope these links don't get chopped up by the Yahoo advertizing!
Vince Chew
http://markvdesigns.tripod.com/boatbuilding/id12.html
http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/Abrasion.htm#xynoleanch
http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/Epoxtest.htm