Nesting dinghy build
Moderator: Jim Walsh
Re: Nesting dinghy build
Still plugging away, I am almost finished glassing the exterior bow section. I will then start on the aft section. I really underestimated the amount of glass, so I have another 10 yards coming. I’ll still have to fair it, but will probably start on the daggerboard trunk for a change of pace. This is slow going, I work on the dinghy after work during the week and go to the marina on the weekends.
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Steve Laume
- Posts: 4127
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
- Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
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Re: Nesting dinghy build
I have found that fiberglass work takes a long time, lots of cloth, resin, tape and sandpaper. And a LOT more time than I expected. I am so sick of sanding the stuff at this point. It is kind of like the wax on, wax off routine but with a tremendous amount of sanding to get the stuff ready for the next step.
I have learned a lot this winter. One thing that has helped is cutting a straight line of glass at the edge when the epoxy is not completely cured. I plan to use gel coat so everything is going to be hidden in the end. I use a sharpie marker to define where I want a layer to end. I then lay on the glass and wait until it is partially cured to cut a straight line with a razor knife. This makes it much easier to fair in the edge before appling the next layer. And I have gone through a bunch of making tape. I am now working on some trim rings with a 1/4" radius and found it is hard to get the glass to lay down around the edge. I lay on the glass and squeegee off the excess, then wrap it with saran wrap and tape it down to keep the edge pressed into place. I have also discovered all sorts of uses for hot glue. It is a quick and easy to way to hold temporary supports in place. At first I would use a chisel to pry it away but then discovered that a heat gun would losen it enough to make removal easy. Running a heat gun over any epoxy, you apply will also raise and pop any bubbles that might form in the epoxy. I have been using much more aggressive sandpaper than I ever used with word working. Lots of 60 grit and some 40 grit in places. I talked to Nick Shade last night and confirmed that too many people are worried about sanding through the glass and will use 120 grit. It will take a very long time and lots of paper to get a smooth finish with such fine paper. 60 grit makes it go a bit faster and then you can smooth it up with some finer paper.
I feel your pain with the amount of time and effort it takes to complete a project like this. I had planned to build my dodger last spring and I worked on it a lot this winter and am still trying to finish it up this spring. You are doing some great work. Just don't get discouraged about how much time it is going to take to finish it up, Steve.
I have learned a lot this winter. One thing that has helped is cutting a straight line of glass at the edge when the epoxy is not completely cured. I plan to use gel coat so everything is going to be hidden in the end. I use a sharpie marker to define where I want a layer to end. I then lay on the glass and wait until it is partially cured to cut a straight line with a razor knife. This makes it much easier to fair in the edge before appling the next layer. And I have gone through a bunch of making tape. I am now working on some trim rings with a 1/4" radius and found it is hard to get the glass to lay down around the edge. I lay on the glass and squeegee off the excess, then wrap it with saran wrap and tape it down to keep the edge pressed into place. I have also discovered all sorts of uses for hot glue. It is a quick and easy to way to hold temporary supports in place. At first I would use a chisel to pry it away but then discovered that a heat gun would losen it enough to make removal easy. Running a heat gun over any epoxy, you apply will also raise and pop any bubbles that might form in the epoxy. I have been using much more aggressive sandpaper than I ever used with word working. Lots of 60 grit and some 40 grit in places. I talked to Nick Shade last night and confirmed that too many people are worried about sanding through the glass and will use 120 grit. It will take a very long time and lots of paper to get a smooth finish with such fine paper. 60 grit makes it go a bit faster and then you can smooth it up with some finer paper.
I feel your pain with the amount of time and effort it takes to complete a project like this. I had planned to build my dodger last spring and I worked on it a lot this winter and am still trying to finish it up this spring. You are doing some great work. Just don't get discouraged about how much time it is going to take to finish it up, Steve.
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Ben Miller
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Apr 2nd, '15, 15:39
- Location: Typhoon Weekender #1511 - Grand Traverse Bay
Re: Nesting dinghy build
Hi Vincent! I've had fun watching your build thread and wanted to chime in to say that a few weeks ago I got the plans for a Catspaw 8 (non-nesting), a pram design also from B & B. The goal is for it to be a more enjoyable way to row out to my Typhoon than the old flat-bottom inflatable I have right now.
I might start my own build thread, but wanted to pop in here and offer you some encouragement.
I might start my own build thread, but wanted to pop in here and offer you some encouragement.
Re: Nesting dinghy build
Steve and Ben: Thanks for the kind words and advice. Ben, good luck. I have an inflatable, I hope to never have to row it. You will enjoy the cats paw much more, I think..
Steve, I’m not discouraged, I actually enjoy the work. It is a slow process, made much slower by my decision to use extra reinforcement at the corners and to lay in glass over the entire exterior. I appreciate the advice. I had come to love 60 grit on my own. It really cuts the time and the epoxy. I have 5 sanding blocks and I am quick to change to a new block. I like your idea of cutting before the epoxy is completely hard, that just doesn’t work so well for me. I usually lay up the glass at the end of my evening and then go home. With limited room, and in a place away from a backyard or garage, I don’t make it back until the next day. And once I change back into street clothes, I don’t like moving around in the locker too much. I am not finished the exterior yet, but am getting bored, so I am going to flip and start on the seats and daggerboard trunk.
The real slowdown is devoting weekends to the big boat. I just spent three days getting my binnacle freed up. I’ll post that hub separately, but I am convinced 5200 is the work of the devil. I’ll post pictures, but I’ll have a CD 33 binnacle for sale soon. It needs paint but the aluminum base is in good shape.
Steve, I’m not discouraged, I actually enjoy the work. It is a slow process, made much slower by my decision to use extra reinforcement at the corners and to lay in glass over the entire exterior. I appreciate the advice. I had come to love 60 grit on my own. It really cuts the time and the epoxy. I have 5 sanding blocks and I am quick to change to a new block. I like your idea of cutting before the epoxy is completely hard, that just doesn’t work so well for me. I usually lay up the glass at the end of my evening and then go home. With limited room, and in a place away from a backyard or garage, I don’t make it back until the next day. And once I change back into street clothes, I don’t like moving around in the locker too much. I am not finished the exterior yet, but am getting bored, so I am going to flip and start on the seats and daggerboard trunk.
The real slowdown is devoting weekends to the big boat. I just spent three days getting my binnacle freed up. I’ll post that hub separately, but I am convinced 5200 is the work of the devil. I’ll post pictures, but I’ll have a CD 33 binnacle for sale soon. It needs paint but the aluminum base is in good shape.
Re: Nesting dinghy build
Apologies for no recent posts. I have put the build on hold and am working to get my 33 launched by the fall. I still have seats and the daggerboard trunk to install. If we get a real rainy weekend I might do some work on it, but most will happen next winter, I expect.