Butt cat 18ft6
- Thread starter Big Mic
- Start date
Also started glassing the nidacore sheets - this was my first attempt ever at fiberglassing anything!
It turned out alright for my first attempt I think...
On the nidacore sheet I used 410gsm Biaxial woven fiberglass sheeting, the stuffs a pleasure to work with - literally no stray fibers or mess! I used approximately 2250g of resin plus 2% catalyst per side of sheet.
I also put peelply over the wet glass - I doubt I will be doing this for the remaining 9 sheets ( works out to 95 rand a sheet) the idea behind it is that after you peel it off once dry it imparts a rough finish into the resin so you do not need to sand it down again when you need to apply another layer of glass after you cut the sheet into whatever it needs to become - bulkhead, stinger, deck etc...
Tip : when mixing the resin and catalyst I used a cheap electronic scale I bought at Crazy Store to get an accurate ratio of resin to catalyst ( I added 2% MEKP as it was an average temperature and I was working in the shade).
For application of resin I used a big yellow spatula thing to spread the resin over the nida sheet evenly and an aluminium roller to roll out any air pockets and to make sure the fiberglass adheres to the sheet nicely after application. Both items available at the composite shop AERONTEC.
Sorry about a whole lot of boring info but hey maybe it helps someone else ðŸ‘ðŸ»
It turned out alright for my first attempt I think...
On the nidacore sheet I used 410gsm Biaxial woven fiberglass sheeting, the stuffs a pleasure to work with - literally no stray fibers or mess! I used approximately 2250g of resin plus 2% catalyst per side of sheet.
I also put peelply over the wet glass - I doubt I will be doing this for the remaining 9 sheets ( works out to 95 rand a sheet) the idea behind it is that after you peel it off once dry it imparts a rough finish into the resin so you do not need to sand it down again when you need to apply another layer of glass after you cut the sheet into whatever it needs to become - bulkhead, stinger, deck etc...
Tip : when mixing the resin and catalyst I used a cheap electronic scale I bought at Crazy Store to get an accurate ratio of resin to catalyst ( I added 2% MEKP as it was an average temperature and I was working in the shade).
For application of resin I used a big yellow spatula thing to spread the resin over the nida sheet evenly and an aluminium roller to roll out any air pockets and to make sure the fiberglass adheres to the sheet nicely after application. Both items available at the composite shop AERONTEC.
Sorry about a whole lot of boring info but hey maybe it helps someone else ðŸ‘ðŸ»
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Use a mo hair paint roller to apply the resin on the nidacore. Also try covering the nidacore first with just resin and let it set. Then put the cloth on. The nidacore gets too heavy when you press the resin through the cloth into the cavities of the nidacore. The cloth on the pic doesnt look saturated as i suspect the resin flowed through the cloth. Remember every kg of resin is a kg you add to the boat.. Just a tip that i found worked the best
So just an update on the build
The hull has been glassed with 2 layers of 450 chop strand throughout as well as 2 additional layer strips running along the keels.
We are currently busy with the transom - just needs to be glassed over tomorrow. Transom consists of 1 layer glass, 1x21mm marine ply section, 1 layer glass, 1 x21mm marine ply section and we will put about 4 or 5 layers of glass over all of that tomorrow with all of the above being in position.
The hull has been glassed with 2 layers of 450 chop strand throughout as well as 2 additional layer strips running along the keels.
We are currently busy with the transom - just needs to be glassed over tomorrow. Transom consists of 1 layer glass, 1x21mm marine ply section, 1 layer glass, 1 x21mm marine ply section and we will put about 4 or 5 layers of glass over all of that tomorrow with all of the above being in position.
nice!!!
well done so far.
yip, fiberglass is not for the faint hearted!!!
so are you foam filling or sondor blocks?
I see some other boats in the back ground!!!
whats going on with them?
well done so far.
yip, fiberglass is not for the faint hearted!!!
so are you foam filling or sondor blocks?
I see some other boats in the back ground!!!
whats going on with them?
willem wikkel spies wrote:
Thanks Willem!
Fiberglass work is one hell of a thing - I've really enjoyed the work so far and have learned a heck of a lot but will be very happy when the glass work is complete. Luckily I've been working under a local boat builders instruction and assistance which has made the process relatively easy thus far.
I've decided to put sondor foam in and I managed to buy a whole load of "reject" buns from sondor for a bargain.
The other boats in that yard are mostly junk piles with exception of the large cape craft that's on its side in one of the pics - that's the boat the boat builder is currently busy with - a complete rebuild ( now this was proper hard work - glad I had nothing to do with that one...)
Thanks Willem!
Fiberglass work is one hell of a thing - I've really enjoyed the work so far and have learned a heck of a lot but will be very happy when the glass work is complete. Luckily I've been working under a local boat builders instruction and assistance which has made the process relatively easy thus far.
I've decided to put sondor foam in and I managed to buy a whole load of "reject" buns from sondor for a bargain.
The other boats in that yard are mostly junk piles with exception of the large cape craft that's on its side in one of the pics - that's the boat the boat builder is currently busy with - a complete rebuild ( now this was proper hard work - glad I had nothing to do with that one...)
ok nice.
did sondor give you a certificate to certify that the "rejects" still complies with regulations?
did sondor give you a certificate to certify that the "rejects" still complies with regulations?
willem wikkel spies wrote:
They did not, they only told me that verbally and said the only reason it's termed reject is due to the cosmetic defects ( blowouts in the foam or misalignment in the mold etc).
I don't think there should be any issues with the foam I got from them..most of the 100mm sheets are near perfect.
They did not, they only told me that verbally and said the only reason it's termed reject is due to the cosmetic defects ( blowouts in the foam or misalignment in the mold etc).
I don't think there should be any issues with the foam I got from them..most of the 100mm sheets are near perfect.
Fin-S wrote:
Hi Fin-S, the transom is built into the existing transom glass and gel coat shape to keep the angle the same as manufacturing spec.
We put wet glass sheets between the original fiberglass transom shape and the first 21mm marine ply cutout - we sandwiched this together by using a lot of self tapping screws with big washers from the outside. We then repeated this process from the inside with the next section of 21mm ply.
Once that has all cured we glassed the entire transom structure, both sides with the inside fiberglass sheets extending about 200mm onto the hull structure to make a strong joint. So the glass forms one continuous layer from inside over the top and onto the entire outside of the existing transom fiberglass shape...hope that makes sense😅
Further reinforcement I guess will be the longitudinal bulkheads that will meet the transom and be fixed to that.
Any further ideas? You reckon what we have done so far is sufficient or maybe needs additional reinforcement?
Hi Fin-S, the transom is built into the existing transom glass and gel coat shape to keep the angle the same as manufacturing spec.
We put wet glass sheets between the original fiberglass transom shape and the first 21mm marine ply cutout - we sandwiched this together by using a lot of self tapping screws with big washers from the outside. We then repeated this process from the inside with the next section of 21mm ply.
Once that has all cured we glassed the entire transom structure, both sides with the inside fiberglass sheets extending about 200mm onto the hull structure to make a strong joint. So the glass forms one continuous layer from inside over the top and onto the entire outside of the existing transom fiberglass shape...hope that makes sense😅
Further reinforcement I guess will be the longitudinal bulkheads that will meet the transom and be fixed to that.
Any further ideas? You reckon what we have done so far is sufficient or maybe needs additional reinforcement?
Thanks Foxstrike ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ‘🻠the new transom is certainly a lot stronger than what was originally on the boat. This was basically a single scaffold plank lol.
I've unfortunately (fortunately as messing around with boats is pretty expensive) got to leave to Angola tomorrow for a month of work so wont be able to personally work on the boat for a while now but my boat building friend will continue the project..
I've ordered a new top deck and Centre console from the butt cat factory so once the deck is on we will be fitting those... Can't wait!
I've unfortunately (fortunately as messing around with boats is pretty expensive) got to leave to Angola tomorrow for a month of work so wont be able to personally work on the boat for a while now but my boat building friend will continue the project..
I've ordered a new top deck and Centre console from the butt cat factory so once the deck is on we will be fitting those... Can't wait!
The main deck will be 20mm nidacore sheets - all I'm getting from butt cat out the mold will be the raised gunnels with the anchor/nose section ( I think I may have referred to this as the top deck - my terminology might be a bit off)... I will also be getting a standard centre console.
I won't be having any under deck plumbing or cabling so the boat will be essentially a big surfboard.
I'm going for a basic practical build, something that's hopefully visually pleasing on the eye but built for the purpose of fishing, with a lot of that being spinning for yellowtail.
I won't be having any under deck plumbing or cabling so the boat will be essentially a big surfboard.
I'm going for a basic practical build, something that's hopefully visually pleasing on the eye but built for the purpose of fishing, with a lot of that being spinning for yellowtail.