> What is the LATEST on this hot topic. I'm almost ready to start glassing
> my Expedition. Do I precoat the wood or wetout glass over bare wood. There
> seems to be good arguments for both methods. On earlier boats, I precoated
> with no problems. I find it interesting the on again, off again of this
> subject. It seems those that used to precoat, now don't and those that
> didn't, now do. Throughly confused!!

> Larry C.

Hey Larry and all. Please, if you would, give me an idea just what you consider precoat. Do you mean, and this is only what I am hearing/understanding, that you wetout the entire craft, out side or inside, and let that layer go to the green stage, and then, come back with your glass and resin?? If so, I can see where there would be extra material usage and extra coats in order to fill the weave.

Many years ago, my Dad built a couple of boats and when he glassed the hulls, he prepaired the bare wood, cut his glass to size/shape, marked it in some fashion( I was only 6 or 7 at the time and can't remember ), then rolled it up. He started the glassing by painting on a coat of resin for about 2 or 3 ft., layed the glass down and brushed over it with another coat, then, roll it with a small roller, or if you prefer, squeegee it. Then, you continued with the same procedure. Brush on a light coat, roll the glass over it, brush on another coat, roll out and so on.

As most of you know, I have no personal experience in glassing, but, it seems to me that the pre-coating in this fashion is definitely assuring a total wet surface, and also, aids in saturation of the glass from the other side. You have a guaranteed fill on the surface, guaranteed contact of glass to wood, easier outer coating, as you aren't forced to squeeze it into the weave in an attempt to penetrate completely through to the wood.???? I'm thinking it would save those extra fill coats. ????

Am I in the same ball park?.........Rehd