: This Sat. I found myself caught on top of a smooth rock pile with the waves
: going out from under me etc. 1 1/2ft seas. basically calm conditions. I
: put some nice deep scratches into the bottom glass that won't re-wet out.

: Question or concern: I'm building a Sea Spirit S & G hybred and was going
: to try to use 4 oz. cloth throughout to make it light. After this Sat. I
: reafermed my belief in 6 oz. with an added 6 oz. football on the botom. I
: know many use 4 oz. and I'm convinced that it's a fals sense of security
: or for lake paddling only. If I had 4 oz. on my Outer Island, I would have
: been into the wood. I think it's cool to carry a super light boat on your
: shoulder down to the beach but to take a pounding on a rock, I just don't
: think 1 layer of 4 oz. will protect the hull at all.

: I scratched up mine good and remember, - calm conditions, no real big waves -
: just laying on some smooth rocks and having to lift the hull with my hands
: to free myself.

Jay- I think some 1/4" steel plate will protect the bottom with a small weight penalty. It will also help to ballast the boat. If you are not keen on that idea, I think 2 layers of 3.2 oz. satin might be a solution. I used that on my new Shooting Star and it is light and according to the "books" should be pretty strong. I can't speak from personal experience on this, however. I should be banging this boat about soon. On my first Outer Island, I used one layer of 4 OZ. S glass on the exterior which produced a light boat. It dents very easy and I won't go that route again. I have had some other epoxy related problems on my second Outer Island. I have now heard of a number of Outer Islands that dent or have glass probelms. I am beginning to think it might be the design!

Ken