: Ok folks,

: Here's a question for the more experienced. Whats the lightest glass layup
: that you'd do? All surfaces glassed. Inside and out and around the
: cockpit? The kayak is a 17'x19" stripper(1/4"strips, wrc on the
: hull, and wrc, Douglas fir, and white pine on the deck.), the paddler is
: less than 150 pounds(I'm playin' it safe), and the paddlin waters are
: basicly flat, inland waters(lazy Fl. rivers) with an occasional boat wake,
: and very few rocks,logs, and stumps. I,d like to keep the weight down on
: this one, but not so much that we have to tip-toe and whisper while we're
: close to the boat to avoid repairs to the glass.

: TIA. Your thoughts, comments, and recommendations are much appreciated.

: Happy Building.

: Charles.

I'd suggest using one layer of 4 oz S-GLASS instead of e-glass.
E-glass is just not very dent resistant.

Under the deck, I'd put at least two layers of glass around the cockpit and three right behind the cockpit
where you'd sit on the deck or coaming.

Be sure to add at least one fill coat on your interior glass surfaces. You need to have this
amount of resin to waterproof the surface.

If you only use enough resin to wet-out the interior cloth, water and dirt and mold will
invade the cloth and break it down. It will start looking dirty, then whitish and finally
delaminate.

In the 1800's strippers were built of 1/4" or 3/16" cedar strips reinforced with oak
ribs inside. No glass, just paint.

All the best,
Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K