: You know Bill, it's not nice to keep such useful information to
: one's self! Share with the group.

Ok, normally I try to build the boat first, then show it off, but this time I'll tell ahead of time, or try to, the frames are kinda complicated. (have to do this at work btw, today I had a coffee emergency at home, dumped an entire cup on my wireless keyboard and mouse which now don't work anymore )

First the long tubes. I used to make these by wrapping a mandrel (mast at the time) with packing tape then several layers of kraft paper then laying the glass up over that. A water bath would disolve the paper enough to allow the sleeve to be relatively easily removed from the mandrel. I was thinking of doing it the same way but was thinking about having to make a water bath around 20 ft. long, pita to make and to use and messy. I use alot of waxed paper as a release surface since it's cheap and the resin doesn't stick well, but it does stick a little. Nice thing is that surface doesn't effect the epoxy and the resin never soaks thru it. So...I wrap the mandrel with a bias wrap of waxed paper with a few inch overlap and tape the paper to itself with masking tape. I've been using PVC pipe, isn't completely rigid but the stringers need bent onto the boat any way, so a little bend doesn't matter, any pipe will work btw, PVC's cheap. I use a short length of the next size smaller as a feeder for the braided sleeve (Soller Composites), it comes flattened on a roll so it's easier to open it up in stages. Once it's pulled onto the mandrel, tape one end in place and stretch it out so it lays flat then tape the other end. Then just wet out the cloth as you would any other, just leave a couple inches on each end bare fabric. After the inital cure, take the tape off and the sleeve just slides easy as can be, waxed paper and all, off the mandrel. The waxed paper weights almost nothing and won't hurt a thing being left in the tube.

Next installment, frames.

Bill H.