Reinforcing Lady Kay's ama's.

[Oscar]

In a separate thread, here, I describe how I am replacing the core of the laminate of LKIV.

The outside layer, GRP and gel-coat is thin, very very thin. (Again, the builder did everything for weight savings, not durability.)
Also, after all the mangling and loss of structure the topsides are not quite fair anymore.

I have sanded them down to gelcoat, and what appears to be a two part building primer.



Here is how I plan to proceed, AFTER the laminate has been rebuilt on the inside and rigidity has been restored.

1 Roll on two, possibly three layers of epoxy with a small amount of filler in it. I plan to do it fast enough to chemically bond them
Then let them cure fully and sand smooth. I'm looking to thicken the outer layer of the laminate to add strength and assure water tightness.

2 Use a filler, like Marine tex to fill and fair. Use a spray can with Rustoleum primer to VERY lightly spray to identify low spots during fairing.

3 Apply building primer and compatible top coat.

Anyone see anything wrong with this?

[Hirilondë]

1. I would do step 2 first. I wouldn't use Marine Tex. It is a great product, but way too expensive for this and totally unnecessary for this application. I would thicken my own epoxy to filler status, or buy a pre-mixed epoxy filler.

2. I would do step one here. I would use epoxy resin only as it won't be more waterproof adding fillers. Yes, I would hot coat too.

3. Sounds good as is.

[Oscar]

. I would thicken my own epoxy to filler status

I can do that, and it was one of my plans....
We'll do that first.

No objection to using the Rustoleum primer as a fairing tell tale? Is there something better?

[Hirilondë]

I would use what ever partial can of paint I had on hand. You will be applying just as a haze and removing completely anyway.

[Oscar]

One more question. I got wood flower to thicken the goop to set the balsa in. Is there any reason not to use that for the filler? I have silica, but the wood is easier to sand.