: Reading ahead in my Arctic Tern instructions, I see that the inside of the
: hull is supposed to be glassed. I was surprise, then, to read in The (Old)
: Kayak Shop, by Chris Kulczycki, that he recommends not glassing the inside
: OR the outside of the hull. On p. 92 he simply instructs the builder to
: seal the inside of the hull with epoxy. On p. 124 there's a discussion of
: whether or not to fiberglass the outside of the hull.

: I've glassed the outside of my Tern hull already and laid a strip of glass
: from stem to stern on the outside hull seam. Does glassing the inside of
: the hull (rather than just sealing with a couple of coats of epoxy) really
: add anything to the structure besides weight? I'm thinking of just
: glassing the cockpit area.

: Opinions, anyone? Thanks.

Steve, the glass is a structural element to the bottom panels as well as connecting the side and bottom panels. You would be making a mistake to not follow the manufacurers recommendation. My first s&g was a Patuxent. The interior chines had 2(!) layers of 9oz. tape, the exterior had one layer of 6oz s-glass and another layer of 9oz tape on the chines. This is what happens when one ventures off from a designers recommendation before developing some sense of the materials and structure in question. Although this kayak had tremendous strength at the chines,,the bottom cockpit area developed cracks after a summers use of surf launchings and landings, as evidenced by water marks following the grain of the wood for 6" in parallel markings, in a very well sealed cockpit. I glassed it the following winter.

I think designs reflect the intention and environment of the designer. If the goals are very light weight and ease of construction for use in the sheltered waters with muddy bottoms then not glassing the exterior or interior is workable with glass tape being the sole fabric involved.