New bow hatch core

[Brendanpd28]

Hello all,

    I will be re-coring my center bow hatch soon and was looking for some advise.  This is my plan:

- wet out a layer of 1708.
- lay in the new ply core
- feather out the sharp ply edges with a thickened epoxy
- Wet everything out and put a layer of 1708 over the new core

The other 2 hatches have solid cores and I was just gunna add a new layer of 1708 just for extra support.

I think this should do the trick and give the hatch the necessary strength but I am not super experienced with resin work.  Thanks in advance!!!

[offthehook]

Fill it with hardening foam instead of recoring.

[RickK]

Fill it with hardening foam instead of recoring.

That's an interesting idea - can you elaborate?

[Capt. Bob]

Hatch repair.

http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=6784.0

[Brendanpd28]

Thanks Capt. Bob!!! Exactly what I've been scouring the site for!!

[Brendanpd28]

Got a layer of 1708 on one of hatches today. I didn't realize how much epoxy it takes to wet that stuff out. I put down a layer of epoxy, laid in the 1708, them wet it all out. I used a fin roller to get all the air out. I had some trouble getting the air out of the fillets.im a real newbie at this but it seems to be laid down well. Any tricks on wet out?

Thanks

[RickK]

1708 is tough stuff to traverse a corner, even at a 45 degree.  I use a hard roller to squeeze resin through and bubbles out.  You can also use a squeegy to drag the resin around - it's a plastic tool used in auto body to spread bondo.

Did you put the chopped fiber mat side down?

[Brendanpd28]

1708 is tough stuff to traverse a corner, even at a 45 degree.  I use a hard roller to squeeze resin through and bubbles out.  You can also use a squeegy to drag the resin around - it's a plastic tool used in auto body to spread bondo.

Did you put the chopped fiber mat side down?

  Yup, mat side down.  i also think i needed a little more resin.  I used what I had left from the deck injection I started the other day.  I thought what I had left would be plenty for 1 layer of 1708.  Im gunna order a bunch more epoxy to finish the injection and finish my hatches and coffin cover. im still learning about how far epoxy goes lol. I've been using U.S. composites....any recommendations for resin supply?

[RickK]

I know I bought a lot from them 

I don't think any of us were born with fiberglass know how (ok - maybe Chris (dirtwheelsfl) ) - so we all learned ourselves or picked up tips from website, a lot from here. A wise member told me about weighing the glass and then matching the weight in resin/hardener - works great.  If you have a postal scale it works perfect.  I always add just a little more weight because I lay the resin on a little heavier somehow.

[CLM65]

One thing I've noticed is that not all 1708 is created equal.  I bought a couple rolls of 1708 tape (6" & 12") off eBay, and it was fairly stiff.  This stuff is difficult to make lay down.  I have also bought some 1708 off eBay that is very soft and handles corners great.  I just got some 1708 from Joel from Gulfstream Composites (he was recently a sponsor here and will be again soon I believe).  I haven't used it yet, but it seems pretty nice.  Point is, if your 1708 is of the stiffer variety, it will fight you all the way.