Dave, I think you definitly need saome kind of PVA, but remember, the surface under the pva must be sealed and very smooth as well. First use several layers of wax (new mold) then spray or brush a coat of pva on, let it dry. After this if you want a gel coat you can spray or paint on a layer of pigmented resin. Let it harden, then layup.

As far as the glass goes, (well you already know I like stronger layups) I am worried about the 1708 cloth first it is going to be pretty stiff(17oz) and next to impossible to mold into footbumps as well as conforming to any sharp bend or angle (which as I recall your boat has a lot of....) Also 1708 has a 8oz layer of mat. Mat soaks up a TON of resin,maybe two tons... it will make the boat much heavier, also it is not as strong, and does not conform to sharp curves/angles very well either., it's ok for bass boats and molds where weight is not as much of concern. Also I doubt that axial cloth will lay up by hand very well, never used it, but I think the fact that it is axial will present problems when you are squeegeeing the resin in and out. Axial cloth also negates the benifits of having the different layers of cloth layed at different angles to each other, making the boat stronger. No one I know of hand lays axial cloth. One of the beauties of woven cloth is that it shifts somewhat to comform to the mold, making it easier to layup especially on compound curves which is what most boats are essentially. They lightest flat water squirt boat laup I know of is a total of 24oz deck/30oz hull. It flexes a lot. It is not reccomended for WW, you might want to consider coming closer to that in you layup. Also don't forget the polyester cloth!

Oh, definitly do not under any circumstances lay up in the basement, the vapors are really really bad, they will permeate everything, everywhere for a long time including you. They are very toxic, respirators are reccomended even outside, John Sweet sells a great mask with the correct (very important) cartridges, you MUST change them every 8 hours of use, and store in a sealed bag to keep then from going bad when not in use. Many of the vapors are absorbed by your eyes(mucous membranes)I have heard. Also the catalyst/resin have very flamable vapors and I think the catalyst MEKP is quite explosive too.... Be carefull! When it comes down to it your health/life is about all you really have and the right chemicals can screw it up quick. Get a copy of the HAZMAT MSDS's from John, or ask his opinion and you will see what I mean. Instead of inside, try the garage with the door wide open or better yet, in the shade somewhere, not in the sun as it will set off the resin too fast.

Might want to research the strength differences in polyester vs. vinylester resin, Poly might be enough for your uses, it is cheaper but also weaker

Good Luck, Bart

: I just called raka and found out that I can get all my glass for 75
: dollars... I'm going to use a 1708 biaxial glass... 2 layer hull and 1
: layer deck... I will reinforce the deck quite a bit with scraps I have
: here... but the 1708 is cheap... 8.75 a yard in 50" width I can cut
: it in half and get double use out of it. I will only need 9 yards for both
: boats be cause it is in effect 25 oz cloth...

: one more quik question before I run to menards to pick up my mold building
: materials... will mold release wax work alone? or should I get some pva as
: well? I want to get everything from raka... and they don;t sell pva but
: they do have wax...

: thanks DAVE