Plastic Classic Forum

Been looking for a 28' boat, and I've come across a Sirius 28 .. Built early 1980's in Canada. Looks good in the photo sent by the owner, but I don't know boo about this boat. Do you? Anyone have any experience with a Sirius 28, or any of the other Sirius boat models that they built? I want to use t...

My Bristol 32 ,, the bulkhead between the port side cockpit locker and the main cabin is partly rotted. The previous owner,, him again ,, he attached, ran wires over,, and the water got in.. at the area closest to the outside or hull. I can't really get at it from the cabin side.. But I can sit in t...

I've faired, ,, the fairing is West System with 407

Do I need to seal the finish before applying primer,, paint?

I will be applying fairing epoxy to my deck repair. The West System 407. [the 410 says not to use if area gets hot .. like a deck in the sun]
Then sand..
Then?? Can I put my Prep Kote primer on the sanded out
407 filled/faired area, and then go with the Brightside?

I made a deck repair. Next the fairing compound goes on and then I am painting the cabin roof, etc.. The Interlux directions recommend using solvent 202 was remover.. but the directions are shaky about when.. Do I wash the gel coat, fiberglass deck and then dry and then use the solvent 202? Or use t...

Let's see; I cut open the deck, dug out the bad core,, cleaned, sanded,, got new core.. put the new core in.. used balsa.. This is on the port side, cabin roof, bristol 32. Today,, I was planning the fiberglass and I realized the top edge of my cutout ,, the original thickness of deck is small than ...

As I have researched, and planned out my repair, I've come across differing opinions on the core material to use when repairing a deck. I believe Casey says to stay with the original material.. in my case balsa which is what I am using .. but on another web site, the recommendation was a foam .. I'v...

I have very little experience so ?? The only fiberglass I've used is shiny, smooth material.. but there is biaxial cloth, etc..
what is the difference between these glass cloths?

Just saw the post about the cloth .. thanks .. I'm assuming the layers are put on one at a time? Or,, can I wet out one layer, and then put another over top? After the two or three layers of biaxial cloth? Is there a separate cloth for the top layer to get the skin smooth? After each use,, I spray w...

On my Bristol, which I cut into today.. I doubt I would ever be able to reuse the old sking. The rood is not level for one problem.. After the balsa ?? What material and sequence should I use/follow. I don't have much of any fiberglass experience so .. one more thing;; the bottom balsa, when it came...

Wow.. made the cut .. and it was not what I though .. the wet was not as large, although there was damp.. getting the top skin off was a bear. I have two more areas to remove tomorrow, not too large. After I got the skin off, I looked over the old skin and I doubt I can reuse it. Anyone ?? After the...

Thanks for the input .. its that darn "first cut" .. I sat there and looked at the cabin roof for two hours .. couldn't pull the trigger. Today .. I will cut today.. Will have the balsa tomorrow.. Can get it one day UPS.. The fear of messing up is slowing me down.. But,,,, necessity is the...

Today I started the recore of part of my cabin roof. The wet is where the bolts for the hand/grab rails went through. I did a few drill holes to see how far the wet is.. then I looked at the fiberglass and thought .. once I open up the roof, I will immediately start to clean out the bad balsa. This ...

The Previous Owner.. [po], he put in a car stereo radio. He ran wires for the radio and attached the wires to wood near the bulkhead on the starboard side forward of the starboard berth. The wire is a magnet for moisture. Last weekend, I reached in, pulled the wire, poked at the wood,, and ROT,, Woo...

I use electrians putty,, the stuff they put into holes to stuff up when
running wires.. it is like a putty material.. got it at Lowes.. just take a small amount, stick it on the bottom hole,, it holds back the epoxy until dry.. then? pull the putty off..

Making sure I have this right .. take a spray bottle such as an empty Windex spray bottle.. fill with clear, no soap, or anything .. water. After the epoxy has dryed .. spray the surface with the spray bottle or plain water and scrub the surface with a scotch brite pad .. After scrubbing .. dry off ...

My boat will be getting two new hand grab rails on the cabin top after she is core repaired, etc. I was looking at Hamilton Marine etc and they sell the ready made teak hand rails. But then I see the SS hand rails. I looked a little closer, huum I'm thinking. These a nice. I went on a few boats site...

Thanks,, Tim.. always get the good advice here.. So far, my job is just at the planning, getting the tools together, etc stage. But.. soon. I hope.

Did some sounding at my bad core spot. This is in the area where the hand/grab rail bolts came through the cabin roof deck. Near to the holes, mush. A the mush goes out a few inches. Then,, not so mush. In fact, when I drilled a look see hole last spring, the core was looking good, but maybe a littl...

I looked through and could not fine an answer.. after the deck is recored, reattached, filled, sanded, etc.. and ready for paint ..

How many coats of the two part primer, Interlux, are necessary?

If two coats of primer, only one finish or is that two coats as well.

Although I will be cutting some of the cabin top, the weight of the mast is not being carried by deck. A large beam is below deck to carry weight. Good thought though. If the boatyard wasnt' such a rip off I would have the mast down for a couple of weeks. But they want lots of money and they do a te...

Jason,, the boat is a Bristol 32, and the mast is deck stepped, with a carry beam below. The are around the mast, deck, is fine. My only issue is the area of cabin top around and near to the bolt holes of the hand/grab rails. I plan on working from top to bottom, as the Bristol has a head liner. I w...

The mast is stepped on my boat. I am planning on a cabin top, recore around the area of the hand/grab rails that the po didn't bother sealing and now are mushy, then paint.. The mast and all is not in the way, is there any reason that the project can't be done with mast up?