I'm in the latter phases of constructing Eric Shade's (Shearwater Boats) Eider open cockpit double (http://www.shearwater-boats.com/eider.html). I'm again using Home Depot 1/8" Luan. I didn't clear coat this time - but wish I would have. I'm using the Raka 3.25 oz satin weave 'glass cloth. The stuff is great - light and strong - but I ended up with several unsightly spots where hundreds of tiny, tiny air bubbles can be seen. They are so small the glass just looks kind of cloudy. I think if I would have clear coated the wetout would have gone easier and would have looked better.

However - I glassed the inside of all my panels back in January when it was cold(?) here in Phoenix - 50 degrees F. I used Raka epoxy with mostly fast cure hardener. The boat is too long for my garage (18'6") - so I've had to build it on my patio. I built a cardboard tent over things and heated it up to about 120 degrees F after wetting it out. This glass work came out much better than the work I've done on the rest of the hull this summer. Too bad. I wonder if heating the stuff up made the difference? or longer working time due to the cold? I've been working in 100 degree plus heat - and even using mostly slow hardener the stuff gels pretty fast - 15 minutes or so.

If I ever build another stitch and glue boat from plans I will: 1) go to the hassle and expense of buying okoume - it looks better. 2) glue the 4x8s to full length before cutting out the panels - much easier

Happy building, PC