Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

From experience, which method is best?
By:Brian Barnett
Date: 3/31/1999, 7:05 am

Here are two ways to strip a kayak. Method 1. Strip the entire boat (hull and deck) on the forms. Once the glue is dry, remove all the staples and remove the deck and hull from the forms. Fiberglass the outside of each separately and the then the insides. Join the two halves.

Method 2. Strip the hull only to the sheerline (marked on the forms). Once the glue is dry, remove the staples and fiberglass the outside of the hull while still on the forms. Once cured, remove the hull and fiberglass the inside. Now, strip the deck and remove the staples once the glue is dry. Fiberglass the deck (once combing is built of course) while still on the forms and once cured, remove from the forms and fiberglass the inside. Now join the two halves.

Is it desireable to fiberglass a portion of the boat on the forms or free of them? I am wondering if the stripped wood shell will flex if off the forms prior to the outside being fiberglassed causing a less than perfect fit when mated.

"The Strip-Built Sea Kayak" did not bring this out as far as I could tell. Thanks.

Messages In This Thread

From experience, which method is best?
Brian Barnett -- 3/31/1999, 7:05 am
Re: From experience, which method is best?
Paul Woolson -- 3/31/1999, 12:59 pm
Re: From experience, which method is best?
Jay Babina -- 3/31/1999, 9:01 am
Re: From experience, which method is best?
Pete Rudie -- 3/31/1999, 11:48 am
Re: From experience, which method is best?
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 3/31/1999, 10:09 am
Re: From experience, which method is best?
Ross Leidy -- 3/31/1999, 9:22 am
Re: From experience, which method is best?
Mac Buhler -- 3/31/1999, 5:46 pm