JEM Watercraft

Hey Chalk, did you finish this craft yet? I am dieing to see some pics of the finished project. This is one I was considering originally and would like to see how it turned out. Thanks.

Still collecting dust in the garage ...Been traveling and fishing too much....I'm working on it...I'll go out on a limb and say I hope to be painting her by May...That's with the holidays and two months of traveling, I know of

I understand I'm in a similar situation. It just looks like it is so close now. Anyway will stay tuned.

Looks massive. You could always take the "Beats Walkin" character out and let him walk back (just to test his theory) ..

Holy Smoke,

Ihat is the biggest canoe I have ever seen. Big job mate. Please keep the pccies coming.

I ordered 3 gallons of epoxy Friday from uscomposites.com. I did it in a hurry and mistakingly selected the thick epoxy, which is good for making paste but not good for laminating. I got a call from Mark at uscomposites.com this morning, he had noticed I had ordered before and noticed I always ordered the thin epoxy. He called to make sure I really wanted the thick epoxy, which I didn't. Excellent customer service, you don't see that too much these days.

Quick update - I have all the supplies needed to finish the hull . I didn't get my fabric until today, I was actually mad at DHL for not bringing it Friday, like it was scheduled...Funny how things happen when they are suppose to...I realized I need to do some more filling and filleting in some areas and I had a few holes to fill.

I laminated in a 9" clamping board on the transom to get my 1.5” transom. Some fairing and taping and I will be ready for laying the fabric.

I dry fit some bulkheads in the hull, first time I have had them in since filleting and taping, only need to round a few corners and they will ready for installation.

I told my wife I was going to be ready to paint in May, she laughed

To Be Continued...

Two hours worth of slinging epoxy and chasing runs.

(For both sides, I might add )

I normally prefer to lay out fiberglass wet, but it tends to be messy. The insides of the boat extend outward and down. Taping it dry and wetting in place has by far produced some of the cleanest and nicest laminations for me to date.

Before


After


To Be Continued...

Chalk,

Laying fiber glass on the inside of a boat is a difficult part of building. Least-worst way I've done it is in two pieces. One for the bow, and one for the stern. Overlap about 6" near the middle.

You can measure the centerline for length, estimate half of that, and add 6". If you are using loose weave glass, you can line up one long edge on a gunnel, overlap it a couple of inches for hang down outside of the boat, pin it with spring-clip clothes pins or tape into place (clothes pins can be removed without tearing up the cloth like tape does), smooth the glass down into the boat and up the other side. Clothes pin it onto the second gunnel, and cut off the triangular chunk of extra glass, with a couple of inches left hanging over the second gunnel just like the first one.

Notice that the line of weave now parallels the line of one gunnel, not the centerline of the boat. This leaves a triangular piece of glass left over that maybe can be used in the other end of the boat.

Loose weave glass will slide around kitty corner to fit the curvature of the boat, and when wet out will remain in place. Tight weave will not remain in place, but will creep back towards its original shape and cause wrinkles in the glass inside the boat.

My experience is that I saw no advantage to a tight weave glass, and saw many disadvantages to it. Other builders have different opinions.

KJ, The tape is biaxial per JEM's direction, the whole boat is made of biaxial tape and fabric for the most part...I might use some tight weave in the finished areas to get a good finish over the biaxial.

The tape doesn't run the full length of the boat, it is only for a small panel that dies into the bow and stern about a foot from each end. The pictures don't really show the extreme angle I was dealing with, the painters tape held the glass in place while I wet it out with a roller and brush.

She's coming together, unless the fish keep me away ...I should get alot done this weekend.