Hi again,

Fiberglass boat construction questions:

1. I've been recently told to use acteone instead of styrene as a gelcoat thinner, because it gives the surface a bit more flexibilty. Styrene, I was told, will become brittle after a year or so. is this true?

2. I was also told not to use pva, use just wax on mould. This contradicts most of what I've ever read in several books.

3. I was told that triping or alligatoring is caused primarily by the coat being too thin and that I absolutely cannot go back over a thin coat with a second coat after it has gone off as the second coat will soften the first coat and cause triping. Glassing over the top of thin or uncured gelcoat will do the same.

4. Can I lay glass while it's raining? I'm being told by some guys in Australia that they lay glass in the rain (inside of course). I would think that the humidity would cause problems. I've had bad luck in the past laying while it's raining.

Thanks!

Cheers, Dave