: Hey Folks,

: I've got a question(s).

: But first, heres the situation. In the walnut design on the deck of the
: "L" that I'm working on, I am getting some telegraphing of the
: joints between the walnut strips. I've got 2 layers of 4oz E glass on the
: outside and 2 fill coats of epoxy. Nothing has been done to the underneath
: side yet. When I applied the glass and fills, the sides of the deck had
: pulled away from the forms abt 1/2" on both sides. The glass/epoxy on
: the outside had been curing for three days, so yesterday I used some
: ratchet straps and pulled the deck back down snug to the forms. Some of
: the "telegraphing" was showing before I pulled it back down to
: the forms, but, now there seems to be more of it.

: My question is: Is this going to be a problem or will it all be taken care of
: when I apply the double layer of 4oz E glass under the deck?

: Also, I was planning on sanding, then applying another fill coat or two on
: the outside anyway after the underside is glassed. This should take care
: of any cosmetic flaws on the outside, IF glassing the underside solves the
: problem.

: You can't see the "telegraphing" in the pic. I just included it so
: you can see where the walnut is.

: Any, and all, help will be greatly appreciated.

: Happy Building.

: Charles.

What kind of glue are you using to bond strip edges?

If you're using yellow carpenter's glue, I can understand
the humidity/temperature rock-n-roll you're going through
will cause this glue to creep and telegraph your glue lines.

If you're strapping the deck back into shape this stress will
make it worse, and the stress you put into the deck will release
at some point in the future with areas of glass turning to white checks.

If you can make a plastic tent around the deck and put some light bulbs
or other heat source you can dry the deck out to the point it does not
need the straps to be the right width. Then glass the underside and
you should not have further stress problems with the deck.

Apply a couple more coats of resin on the exterior and sand and your
lines should be gone.

Strippers all expand and contract and I've noticed all my boats showed
some telegraphing of the glue lines and glass weave after a couple years.
Usually this disappears with a couple coats of new varnish.

But it's a good reminder to all of us strip builders to try and avoid
putting our boats in situations where there will be a drastic temperature
change which will really stress the laminate.

All the best,
Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.laughingloon.com