Xynole results
Finally got the time to do the epoxy/xynole/graphite on a new, bare
dougfir plywood bottom.
Flat bottom with not much rocker so it was easy. The area was 49.75
sq. ft. and I used 76 oz of WEST 105/205. That works out to just over
1.5 ounces of resin/hardener per square foot of dry fir/xynole.
No problems handling the xynole cloth, no puckering, no floating,
went right around the 1/2" radius chine and both ways where the
bottom/chine/transom intersect.
I used only a 6" putty knife to spread the resin. The edges I left
long until it was slightly tacky, then trimmed with a utility knife
and pressed them back down.
While it was still tacky I went over it with a thin
epoxy/microballoons mix to fill the weave, (I wouldn't have done
that if it were a deck, the texture is really quite nice). That took
and additional six ounces of epoxy. After that was tacky I then
troweled on a another 8 ounces of epoxy with graphite powder mixed in.
So that brought the total epoxy usage up to 90 ounces, still under 2
oz per sq foot.
Today, after a water wash & rinse, I hit it with a sander using 220
grit. Very lightly and very quickly, taking off only the shine and
the
bugs and wind blown debris that always seem to find any outside epoxy
worrk I do.
I now have a sexy black, slick, durable, UV resistant, no paint
(trailer sailed), easy to clean bottom and I don't intend to see the
bottom again for a
long, long time.
I have two other boats with the same bottom, one was badly gouged in
a trailer swapping misshap (don't ask), but was easily repaired with
a cleaning, epoxy w/graphite, and a light sanding.
Rick
dougfir plywood bottom.
Flat bottom with not much rocker so it was easy. The area was 49.75
sq. ft. and I used 76 oz of WEST 105/205. That works out to just over
1.5 ounces of resin/hardener per square foot of dry fir/xynole.
No problems handling the xynole cloth, no puckering, no floating,
went right around the 1/2" radius chine and both ways where the
bottom/chine/transom intersect.
I used only a 6" putty knife to spread the resin. The edges I left
long until it was slightly tacky, then trimmed with a utility knife
and pressed them back down.
While it was still tacky I went over it with a thin
epoxy/microballoons mix to fill the weave, (I wouldn't have done
that if it were a deck, the texture is really quite nice). That took
and additional six ounces of epoxy. After that was tacky I then
troweled on a another 8 ounces of epoxy with graphite powder mixed in.
So that brought the total epoxy usage up to 90 ounces, still under 2
oz per sq foot.
Today, after a water wash & rinse, I hit it with a sander using 220
grit. Very lightly and very quickly, taking off only the shine and
the
bugs and wind blown debris that always seem to find any outside epoxy
worrk I do.
I now have a sexy black, slick, durable, UV resistant, no paint
(trailer sailed), easy to clean bottom and I don't intend to see the
bottom again for a
long, long time.
I have two other boats with the same bottom, one was badly gouged in
a trailer swapping misshap (don't ask), but was easily repaired with
a cleaning, epoxy w/graphite, and a light sanding.
Rick