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Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice *PIC*
By:Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K
Date: 3/31/2014, 3:34 pm

Attached is a very interesting chart made by West Systems which details tests they did on various cedar strip panel thicknesses and fiberglass weights. I believe Nick has this in one of his books and it is also available on the web.

When I started building strippers, I used the standard low cost 6 oz. E-glass. One full layer inside and out, plus a second layer below the waterline. I have always used 3/16" thick strips.

West System also did research on multipul layer glass lay-ups and concluded it is best to apply one layer at a time. They found when two layers are wet-out together they soak up and hold more resin/weight than two individually applied layers.

AND West Systems recently found lay-up strength will be increased if interior glass is applied diagonally, so treads cross the strip joints at 45˚ doubling the number of treads crossing strip joints and wood fiber orientation.

After many years I have learned the strength of 1 layer of 6 oz. glass inside and out is much tougher than I thought.

I paddle in rocky, mussel chocked waters. I weigh 220 and carry a 100 pounds of gear on wilderness trips, run over rocks and have never come close to breaking the glass surface.

For the last 10 years I've used 4 oz. S-glass fiberglass which as strong as 6 oz. E-glass and more abrasion resistant.

Years ago I tried 4 oz. E-glass and found it did not resist dents well. I have not used it since.

I hope this helps in your choice of strip thickness and glass lay-up.

All the best,
Rob

Nothing is as simple
as we hope it will be.
Sufi sage, Mulla Nasrudin

Messages In This Thread

Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice *PIC*
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 3/31/2014, 3:34 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 3/31/2014, 4:34 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Mike Bielski -- 3/31/2014, 5:30 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 3/31/2014, 6:02 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice *PIC*
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 3/31/2014, 6:32 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Mike Bielski -- 3/31/2014, 7:52 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 3/31/2014, 8:43 pm
Testing in general and fiber to wood grain
Mike Bielski -- 3/31/2014, 10:02 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
ddaniels -- 4/1/2014, 4:19 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 4/1/2014, 6:31 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Etienne Muller -- 4/2/2014, 4:20 am
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Mike Bielski -- 4/2/2014, 9:49 am
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 4/2/2014, 12:42 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
JohnAbercrombie -- 4/2/2014, 1:17 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Mike Bielski -- 4/2/2014, 1:23 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 4/2/2014, 1:41 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
JohnAbercrombie -- 4/2/2014, 1:50 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Mike Bielski -- 4/2/2014, 10:50 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
John Messinger -- 4/3/2014, 10:00 am
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
Bill Hamm -- 4/2/2014, 3:15 pm
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice *NM*
John Messinger -- 4/3/2014, 10:05 am
Re: Material: Fiberglass Lay-up and Weight advice
John Messinger -- 4/3/2014, 10:44 am