: Thanks for the insight on epoxy dust.
: I have a dust collector system & a respirator but that probably wouldn't
: preclude dust from entering the heating system and thereafter the entire
: house.

: Basement it is!

To greatly reduce the dust and fumes access to the rest of your house I'd suggest closing off your work section of the basement with plastic sheeting. You can open large sections to allow heat in and close it up for sanding and the major deck/hull wet-out and fill coats.

If you have a cold air return in your work area put a filter over it or block it off and shut off your furnace when you sand or epoxy.

Buy a high capacity squirrel cage fan and install it in a basement window via plywood. Connect a 4" flex hose to it and drop it to the floor when you do the epoxy work. Epoxy vapors are heavy and drop to floor level. The fan and hose will remove them.

Invest in a light-weight variable speed, DUSTLESS random orbital sander and a power tool activated vacuum system. When you hook the sander up to a good vac you'll have very little dust in you shop.

If you do all this you'll have a clean and vapor free home, and a happy wife.

Well she'll be happy the house isn't covered in dust and stink at least.

Also put lockable casters on your strongback so you can move it to get around the ends.

All the best,

Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.LaughingLoon.com