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Re: Strip: sheer clamp options
By:Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K
Date: 3/26/2013, 1:19 pm
In Response To: Strip: sheer clamp options (Howie)

installing sheer clamps instead of the dreaded inside taping of the sheer.

Too bad, you must have had bad advise on that.

I'm taping inside seams today, too bad you can't stop in and see. Takes me about 15 minutes a side to install the tape and wet it out.

Align and tape deck to hull with 2" clear packing tape, a 12" strip every 12". Then seal the exterior joint with the packing tape. This keeps resin from leaking out later.

Cut out hatch openings.

Set the kayak stems on horses and clamp so the seam points at the floor. Using a 3" wide roll of 6oz seam tape reach in one hatch and push the dry tape up to the end with a stick. Lay a weight on the tape by the hatch. Unroll the dry tape out straddling the seam, press in place. Fit into the other end. Mix three ounces of epoxy and pour on the seam tape reaching through a hatch up to the stem as far as you can. Spread the resin up toward the stem with a 2" foam brush hot glued to a 2' stick. work the resin toward the hull center and up to the other stem.

Gravity is your friend! Once the resins sets repeat for the other seam.

I don't like sheer clamps. They're more work. If the wood isn't totally sealed (at least three coats of resin) it will rot down the line. And sheer clamps were designed to screw the deck and hull together. Will you just leave the squeeze out goo on the inside from the epoxy filler applied to the joint?

IF I were going to do it, I'd do this.

Cut softwood strips with a triangle section, one side fits the hull, one side the deck. Fit, clamp, bend with heat gun, to follow the sheerline of the glassed hull. Glue them to the hull. Leave a gap of about 4 feet near the cockpit where you can use seam tape and very easily reach.

PRE-FIT your deck. Remove and Apply thickened epoxy to the top of sheer clamp (deck surface) and tape in place with 2" clear packing tape. You can see through it and it stretches for added clamping pressure. Then use seam tape near the cockpit opening.

Good luck!

Rob

Messages In This Thread

Strip: sheer clamp options
Howie -- 3/26/2013, 9:51 am
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options
Paul Davies -- 3/26/2013, 12:39 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 3/26/2013, 1:19 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 3/26/2013, 1:38 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 3/26/2013, 1:42 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 3/26/2013, 1:44 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 3/26/2013, 1:48 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 3/26/2013, 1:53 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options *PIC*
Sean Dawe -- 3/26/2013, 2:24 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options
Jay Babina -- 3/26/2013, 2:37 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/26/2013, 7:26 pm
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 3/27/2013, 5:03 am
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 9:49 am
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/27/2013, 11:21 am
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options
Bill Hamm -- 3/28/2013, 1:11 am
Re: Strip: sheer clamp options
Howie -- 3/27/2013, 6:54 pm