: Hi,

: Just wondering about the strength issue, I know that it is the cloth that
: gives the most srtuctural strength, but not sure how much of a good layer
: of epoxy is needed over it. I have put 4 coats of epoxy to fill the weave
: and have sanded it smooth. I was intending to coat it again at this point,
: but with it smooth now and if I coat it again I will have to sand it
: again, so I am wondering is is ok strength wise to stop with the 4 coats I
: have on now ?? Thanks in advance for any experienced advice.

: Arthur

If I remember correctly you're building a North Star and you've just finished glassing the hull.

I recommend doing the four fill coats as you have done and then doing a rough sanding with 80 grit.

You want to sand the resin and not cut into the glass. How do I know when to stop sanding so I won't cut the glass? This is always the question for a novice to figure out.

You know you're cutting the glass when you start to see a whitish dot pattern which is the tops of the cloth threads. You definately want to stop if you see this. If you must stop sanding but haven't done your finish sanding obviously any more sanding will just cut deeper into the cloth.

To solve this problem and make it simple for anyone to sand without cutting the glass I suggest the following proceedure;

Roll on four fill coats. Rough sand with 80 grit. If you see and cloth pattern STOP sanding in that spot. Go on to strip and glass your deck. Do the same for the deck, four fill coats and sand with 80.

Do all your hull/deck seaming, coaming work, glass the stems with bias cloth. All this will add dips and runs to the previously sanded surfaces. Sand and feather the edges of your seams.

THEN roll on two more new coats of resin to the whole boat. Since your boat has been sanded with 80 grit the new coats will be very smooth. All you need do is start sanding with 120 grit then go to 220 and you're ready to varnish.

The new coats of resin will fill the raw feathered glass edges of your seams and stem reinforment. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY you can sand this new surface, confident that you will not cut into the glass.

It's in your plans Arthur

All the best,
Rob