Stripped Freedom 15

[hairymick]

Let me know what you think

are you insane?

I bloody want one, just like that.

and so the bar gets raised yet again.

beautiful mate, just beautiful

[Oldsparkey]

I'll hold off till the deck and the rest is on it for my decision but for a small amount of change I will drive out and take it off your hands. RIGHT NOW.

Chuck.

[LIGHT KEEPER'S KID]

She's going to be the talk of the show at Ink's lake in May

Mike

[Darrells]

LIGHT KEEPER'S KID, I don't know about that. There will be some fine boats there. After all this is only my second (of many) boats. Some of the guys have many many boats under their belts. I am very sure she is gonna be a very nice boat but there is always some little things that new guys overlook.

Gerald Kennedy (a well known boat builder in this area) gave me some advice that has helped. He said no boat is perfect just has to look that way.

[craiggamesh]

It looks absolutely beautiful. I love the colors.

How do you like the US Composites epoxy? Any blush? I may switch to that. Per your previous post, I looked, and I liked the prices.

Thanks.

[Darrells]

craiggamesh ,
I am using the 2:1 epoxy which is the slow non-blushing mix. I really have not done enough with it to rate it yet. The pre-coat seemed fine and flowed well and it was cool enough I had plenty of open time. Hopefully by the weekend I will have the final touh-ups done and be ready to lay fiberglass. I can give you a better feel for what it's like at that point. I know a man who uses it exclusively and has not had any problems with it. I used West System on the Pirogue and really like it, but it is more than twice as expensive than US Composites.

[dangermouse01]

Let me know what you think.......

I think I am starting to hate you.
I have had bundles of cedar strips in my shop for about 3 years now, and they have not done anything yet, they just keep sitting there. While your strips seem to have magically formed themselves into a fantastic looking boat in a matter of a few short weeks.

My strips must be from some of that "slow growth" cedar, sigh.....

DM

[craiggamesh]

I am using the 2:1 epoxy which is the slow non-blushing mix. I really have not done enough with it to rate it yet. The pre-coat seemed fine and flowed well and it was cool enough I had plenty of open time. Hopefully by the weekend I will have the final touh-ups done and be ready to lay fiberglass. I can give you a better feel for what it's like at that point. I know a man who uses it exclusively and has not had any problems with it. I used West System on the Pirogue and really like it, but it is more than twice as expensive than US Composites.

Thanks. I was thinking of ordering some of their fast cure due to the cold weather. I was worried about blush, though. I have been using the Marinepoxy from Duckworks on my last two builds and have had no blush, but it was their slow cure. In these temps we have been having it may not cure properly. I noticed that the US Composites stuff was less expensive which is why I was curious. Of course, it ships from farther away so it may not be any cheaper for me.

[Darrells]

All of the cracks are puttied ( is this a word ). It must be a 100 degrees in the shop because we have a cold front arriving later tonight and I am trying to get the epoxy to set by running a 100,000 BTU propane heater. I am into this a month almost to the day and I am pretty happy with the progress so far. I am sure if I knew what I was doing it would go quicker. I think (hope) this time next month she will be on the water. Then Matt can decide if he likes the plan he drew. I think it will be a keeper,she's got nice lines that pictures just don't show. I am beginning to get antsy to start the deck and see how good it really is gonna look.

When I ordered epoxy I also ordered some epoxy dye and 3M galss bubbles to color match the filling that needed to be done. It turned out pretty good and once it's dried I'll get a couple of pics.

[Darrells]

Well she aint pretty at the moment. Gave her a quick sanding and them wiped it down twice with acetone to remove any dust or oil off of my hands. Laid fiberglass on to let it smoothe out overnight. Tomorrow I will put the first coat of epoxy on the glass.