JEM Watercraft

Hey Matt,
I am making the ENO canoe.
I am using West Marine Polyester Resin.

Question - in your tutorial you stated using wood flour -however, can i just use polyester resin with fiberglass tape applied to inner hull and outer hull which is the same as what I used for the butt joints instead of the wood flour in between the seems ?

Thanks,
Greg

I don't recommend using polyester resin.

You need the filler/thickener (woodflour) in order to create a rounded fillet which is required for structural integrity. Resin by itself won't hold that shape.

jem wrote:I don't recommend using polyester resin.

You need the filler/thickener (woodflour) in order to create a rounded fillet which is required for structural integrity. Resin by itself won't hold that shape.

Also , with what Matt said.........
The fillet , besides making the boat's seams look nice , rounds out the seams of the panels. It fills them in so the glass has a smooth surface to bond to without the normal sharp angles at the junction of the seams.

Chuck.

Thanks guys for your help...the wood flour definitely helped alot. As you noted the wood flour gives the rounded effect on the sides.

Have another question though...the outside is fine / sanded / prepped and ready for resin with fiberglass cloth...

The inside hull where the seems join -some areas are raised by 1/32" to 1/16" of which sanding smoothes out the edges; however to lessen the amount of sanding could I just use wood glue to smooth out the adjoing seems ? (natuarlly having to sand the areas of where wood glue wood be placed )

If wood glue is fine to use for the interior instead of resin/wood flour what type of wood glue would you recommend that
fibergloss cloth and resin can go over it ?

Thanks
Greg

I suppose you could use woodglue with filler but now you are introducing 2 different materials and expecting them to bond. Not a good idea. You already have the epoxy and woodflour, why not just use that?

Also, if you get a sharp cabinet scraper and some elbow grease, those little ridges are gone very quickly.

good thought...i used wood flour.