300/440/550 Partial Flatdeck reglassing

[kswiatk]

A friend and I decided to do a partial flatdeck on his 550/750 conversion. However shortly after we realized we had no clue how to reglass it back together.

I've done some research and here is what we decided to order, eventually:
1 or 2 yards 1708 biaxial
1 quart west-system epoxy with medium hardener. Its 80 here.

Is this the right material, and the right amount of it?.
Thanks.

 

[kswiatk]

ttt

 

[jetskijockey]

Get another quart of epoxy.

 

[kswiatk]

Get another quart of epoxy.

Thanks. Will 635 Thin epoxy resin from US composites be an equivalent to west systems?

 

[jetskijockey]

I would use it. I have 2 gallons of epoxy. I am doing something similar but with a twist. Lol

 

[kswiatk]

I would use it. I have 2 gallons of epoxy. I am doing something similar but with a twist. Lol

Looks like fun! We are using the old pieces of cut smc and a base and then using the biaxial to bond it back to the hull and then going over to reinforce of course.
How much cloth did you use for the above?

 

[jetskijockey]

I have 10 yards of 18 oz biaxial. Used 2 or 3 yards give or take. I have used us composites and west systems before and they are okay. The stuff I use now is Max Bond. It is by far the best stuff I have used. I don't use rollers or brushes. I just put on latex gloves and work the resin into the cloth by hand. You can always grind/sand away excess when it cures.

 

[ftrktguy]

Jetskitokey do u have a build of your flatdeck so far? Have you done the fiberglassing?

 

[Vumad]

I usually use 1208. 1708 and 1208 are basically the same. The advantage to 1208 is that it is thinner so it will be easier to work, but will require more layup than 1708, which will bulk up faster but might not flex as well on tight corners.

If you are not comfortable with the layup, you might want to do 3-4 layers of 1208 instead of 2 with 1708. It will be more work but it will be easier work.

 

[jetskijockey]

Jetskitokey do u have a build of your flatdeck so far? Have you done the fiberglassing?

Yup,
http://www.pwctoday.com/showthread.php?t=425951

 

[amitchell]

This is what I did. I hammered on it and it was solid. Just layers of 1708 and West Systems. I think I bought 2 yards and was left with about a full yard with all the repair work finished. I used a gallon kit with the slow and fast hardener. You want the slow hardner for the thick layups so you can do it in one shot and not have it flash.

Primed with Interlux Primekote and painted with Interlux perfection, roll and tip method.

 

[amitchell]

This is it finished, and a bonus picture of the wife doing the dirty work.

 

[amitchell]

While your doing all that work, run a half inch copper cooling line thru instead of that stock one and run rear exhaust. Tap your pump for the larger fitting and tee off to standard size fitting in the bilge.

 

[kswiatk]

Some progress on our build. We went for a full flatdeck. Although my buddy didnt actually flatten the deck, so the edges bend up.

We repainted the engine bay with appliance epoxy. That stuff is the bomb! Cost a total of $3 to repaint the bay with one can of the stuff(2 layers) and it looks great. The picture sucks.