fiberglass fuzz
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- sbroam
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fiberglass fuzz
I've got two similar situations that both result in the same thing - itching!
1. We have a couple of old fiberglass canoes that get used for Boy Scout or YMCA groups; they are getting fuzzy, especially on the inside. Kneeling in the boats guarantees itchy knees for a couple of days. If you're not careful loading them, you'll get itchy shoulders, arms, etc... The Mohawk site says to sand and paint with urethane marine paint. Any opinions or alternate approaches?
2. I'm back in glass - picked up a slalom boat at the NOC's GAF. The boat is in great shape; no repairs that I can see, though there is tape (masking?!) peeling on the seams. However, the outside of the hull has a case of the fuzzies. Options? Lightly sand it and a thin coat of resin?
Thanks -
Scott
1. We have a couple of old fiberglass canoes that get used for Boy Scout or YMCA groups; they are getting fuzzy, especially on the inside. Kneeling in the boats guarantees itchy knees for a couple of days. If you're not careful loading them, you'll get itchy shoulders, arms, etc... The Mohawk site says to sand and paint with urethane marine paint. Any opinions or alternate approaches?
2. I'm back in glass - picked up a slalom boat at the NOC's GAF. The boat is in great shape; no repairs that I can see, though there is tape (masking?!) peeling on the seams. However, the outside of the hull has a case of the fuzzies. Options? Lightly sand it and a thin coat of resin?
Thanks -
Scott
C-Boats Moderator
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
- sbroam
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sand?
Kaz -
What about surface prep, aside from cleaning? Should I avoid sanding the C-1? Will that damage the fibers? And application - brush? Then squeegee?
Thanks -
Scott
What about surface prep, aside from cleaning? Should I avoid sanding the C-1? Will that damage the fibers? And application - brush? Then squeegee?
Thanks -
Scott
C-Boats Moderator
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
Scott,
Here's what I do. I wet sand the hull lightly with 180 grit paper. After the hull dries from the wetsanding, I mix up a small batch of resin, maybe 4 ounces. After putting on my latex gloves, I pour a small amount of juice on the boat and smear it around with my hands, to a very thin layer. Repeat for the rest of boat. 4 ounces should be enough. You just want to seal the exposed glass fibers. Sanding helps restore some of the original color. This process brings me satisfactory results with mimimal effort.
JKaz
Here's what I do. I wet sand the hull lightly with 180 grit paper. After the hull dries from the wetsanding, I mix up a small batch of resin, maybe 4 ounces. After putting on my latex gloves, I pour a small amount of juice on the boat and smear it around with my hands, to a very thin layer. Repeat for the rest of boat. 4 ounces should be enough. You just want to seal the exposed glass fibers. Sanding helps restore some of the original color. This process brings me satisfactory results with mimimal effort.
JKaz
- sbroam
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Kaz -
Sounds great !
Thanks -
Scott
Sounds great !
Thanks -
Scott
C-Boats Moderator
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
Kaz, do you use the same technique of wet sanding/applying a thin coat of resin to fix scratches on your boats? My Fat Boy has some scratches which penetrate the pigmented layer and show the underlying fibers. Nothing wide. And nothing where the underlying fibers appear damaged. I just want the boat to look as great as it feels.
I only made it to GAF for the final day. The Defiant was a popular boat on Sunday. A number of open boaters, one c1 paddler, and even some K1 folks had questions about the boat. I referred them to your website.
Scott, that Viper 12 on top of my truck is one beat up hunk of royalex. It should make an excellent winter project for Bill. I think with a phone call to John Sweet, some serious chine work, and a new saddle we can turn it into a good boat for a completely color-blind boater. She'll never be pretty again....
I only made it to GAF for the final day. The Defiant was a popular boat on Sunday. A number of open boaters, one c1 paddler, and even some K1 folks had questions about the boat. I referred them to your website.
Scott, that Viper 12 on top of my truck is one beat up hunk of royalex. It should make an excellent winter project for Bill. I think with a phone call to John Sweet, some serious chine work, and a new saddle we can turn it into a good boat for a completely color-blind boater. She'll never be pretty again....
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Pretty Boat
David,
You aint right- that Viper 12 is going to be sweet- It's going to be red white and blue when I get done with it- well it kind of is now- I might even get some stars on it- we'll see, It won't be as pretty as yours but it will be an original.
Bill
You aint right- that Viper 12 is going to be sweet- It's going to be red white and blue when I get done with it- well it kind of is now- I might even get some stars on it- we'll see, It won't be as pretty as yours but it will be an original.
Bill
- sbroam
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hey now
It's been a long time since that Viper 12 looked as good as it paddled. One of my all time favorite boats. There are parts of that boat in 4 states and on the rocks of dozens of creeks and rivers. I did get my money's worth out of that one. And for a case and a half of beer, so will Bill!
I hate that I missed a chance to try a Defiant.
Scott
I hate that I missed a chance to try a Defiant.
Scott
C-Boats Moderator
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
Scott-
I have two old boats, a Noah and a Phoenix, which are non-glass, and therefore got quite fuzzy on the outside from wear. Various sanding techniques did not cut off the fuzz. I even tried a safety razor without success.
So I bought a propane torch, put the flame spreader attachment on it, and swept over the hull surface. The flame caused the fuzz to shrivel into little hard knobs which I could sand off or scrape off. Obviously this takes judgement.
I like Kaz's idea about spreading a layer of resin by hand. I used the West epoxy method using foam rollers to put on about three layers, just enough to allow me to sand the surface perfectly smooth. However, the West approach is more difficult and adds more weight. Maybe Kaz's vinylester resin is more self-leveling than West epoxy.
I have two old boats, a Noah and a Phoenix, which are non-glass, and therefore got quite fuzzy on the outside from wear. Various sanding techniques did not cut off the fuzz. I even tried a safety razor without success.
So I bought a propane torch, put the flame spreader attachment on it, and swept over the hull surface. The flame caused the fuzz to shrivel into little hard knobs which I could sand off or scrape off. Obviously this takes judgement.
I like Kaz's idea about spreading a layer of resin by hand. I used the West epoxy method using foam rollers to put on about three layers, just enough to allow me to sand the surface perfectly smooth. However, the West approach is more difficult and adds more weight. Maybe Kaz's vinylester resin is more self-leveling than West epoxy.