I keep agreeing with Jay! I've used both WEST's special epoxy glass and the cheapest stuff I could find (Defenderus.com). Not as cheap as free! I have never had any delaminations while using epoxy. I've even used the fiberglass tape designed for sheetrock joints. This budget stitch & glue kayak was assembled using 5mm luan, sheetrock tape, epoxy and was only sheathed on the bottom. I built a test chine joint about 3" long and had a 250# friend jump on it. He hurt his instep. I gave the boat to a friend to test on the Chesapeake. After several seasons it's still doing well. I like to use the sheetrock tape not only 'cause it's cheap, but also because its adheasive keeps it in place while you work and there's no selvege, like glass tape, to soak up extra resin which only has to be sanded off and faired in.

The Guerguon Bros. say the glass sheathing only adds minimal strength and is more important to insure adequate thickness of epoxy. So if your diligent in rolling on your saturation coats you don't need it except for abrasion protection. So I would conclude the glass you're being offered is good 'nuff for kayak building, or over building.

You gotta remember that all these guys putting out plans have to worry about product liability. If you build to their design and it fails, they're on the hook to your estate (in the worst case). If you deviate from their specs, you're on your own. As a consequence, they're going to give you a conservative design and recommend proven methods to keep their insurers and lawyers happy. So you end spending more and building heavier than may be necessary for your intended use. But that's part of the fun in messing around with boats.

: Need an answer to how to tell if fiberglass cloth is finished for epoxy or
: polyester. The place where I get my kayaks clear coated has 2 big rolls
: (about 100 yards each) one of 50" wide 4 oz. and one of 60" wide
: 6 oz. He says they are just in his way and I can have them. (I will pay
: him something or else I would feel guilty forever). Obviously if they are
: finished for polyester and don't work with epoxy, they are of no use to
: me. But, how can one tell?

: I just epoxied a piece of the 4 oz. to a scrap of plywood and it seemed to
: wet out OK. What should I look for? If this stuff is good, I have got a
: really good deal on cloth. Thanks for any help.

: Grant