Monday, April 16, 2007

Reinforcing the bottom






After the stringers were removed, I took some epoxy with some 404 filler and filled in all the strakes and channels where the stringers were located. I did this to reinforce the hull. After removing the stringers down the middle of the boat I had to remove some old glass. I then took some six inch bi-axle and laid it along were the old stringers were. Then I cut two pieces of 1708 and laid right down the middle. After it cured you could really fill the difference in the stiffness of the hull. The plan is add one more layer of 1708 six inches wider on both sides than the first one. I'm going to finish fairing out the bottom of the hull with epoxy with 404 filler. The next step will be to reinforce the hull sides with 3/8" coosa, I will be vacuum bagging for this process. Then I'm going to add four layers of glass to the entire bottom of the hull from bow to stern. My lay up schedule will be as follows : woven roven, matt, woven roven, matt. After all of this is done I'm going to build and install my new stringers. The stringers will be made with foam glassed in with six layers of 1708.