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Re: Epoxy: Kayak manufacture
By:C. Fronzek
Date: 8/2/2003, 12:36 pm
In Response To: Epoxy: Kayak manufacture (James)

As the resident grinch I have to advise you that walking away from this project will help protect your health and sanity. It's not cheap,it's not fast and it can be extremely dirty.
You're the third guy this year who has come here to find out about glass hulls. The other two haven't come back to tell us of their success or failures yet. One guy was determined to do an all Kevlar hull for his initial opus. This is as difficult as it can get.
The pro's use a female mold which is sprayed with a gel coat. The cloth is layed up behind the gel coat and the laminate comes out of the mold with a finished exterior. Home builders who can't do a gel coat must grind and sand their exteriors to get an acceptible finish. This produces a cloud of fibers that are dirty, itchy and harmful to breath. Not something you would want to do in your basement.
Since you've already found this site why not put the mold aside for a while and invest a little time in reading some of the 80 thousand or so posts that are archived here. You can get a Phd.in kayak building without having to stray from your computer monitor.
Charlie

: Hello,

: I have recently got a kayak mould and am considering using it to mould a
: kayak. The mould has two parts in which, I understand, the fibre
: (carbon/glass...) are laid up and covered in resin. The halves are then
: joined together. Can anyone give me any information or tell me where I can
: go to find out the basics of building a kayak.

: Please could you answer the following questions: 1. What is the process of
: laying up the fibre-glass and covering it in resin?
: 2. How can a good finish be ensured?
: 3. What material is best to be used and what is the rough cost of obtaining
: it?
: 4. How are the two halves of the kayak joined together and sealed?

: I would very much appreciate it if anyone could answer any of these
: questions.

: James

Messages In This Thread

Epoxy: Kayak manufacture
James -- 8/2/2003, 6:41 am
Re: Epoxy: Kayak manufacture
KenB -- 8/2/2003, 8:18 pm
book
Sam McFadden -- 8/2/2003, 7:57 pm
Re: Epoxy: Kayak manufacture
C. Fronzek -- 8/2/2003, 12:36 pm
Re: Charles Walbridge
LeeG -- 8/2/2003, 7:06 am