Make GRP panels for canoe

Hi all,

I'm interested in building a canadian canoe for myself and my daughter
to use. I have already built a small rowing boat using stitch and glue
many years ago, but want to try something different.

What I was thinking is to pre-make flat GRP panels (gelcoated on one
side) and then build the canoe in a stitch and glue type method with
these.

I'd probably use polyester resin for the panels and tape together using
epoxy. This is to help reduce the cost as I've not found epoxy resin to
be all that cheap in the UK.

So, with this in mind, how many layers of matt would be needed for the
panel. Too many and it won't easily bend and I guess too few would
leave it weak. Also, how do you determine the quantity of resin needed
based on the sq.ft of the project?

Any advice welcome.

Thanks,
Mark

(Mark@mark-pate.uklinux.net) writes:

> What I was thinking is to pre-make flat GRP panels (gelcoated on one
> side) and then build the canoe in a stitch and glue type method with
> these.

yes, it can be done. TF Jones writes about building a plywood skiff
design (16 ft Dobler on his website www.jonesboats.com) that way.
however, the result will be much heavier than doing the same thing in
plywood.

he laid up the GRP panels on masonite to get a smooth surface on the
outside of the boat. I think he used wax to keep the resin from
sticking. He put the panels together with polyester, spreading a
thickened, uncatalyzed poylester filet, then covering with strips of
fibreglass cloth saturated and "wetted out" with catalysed polyester
resin. When I've put catalysed polyester over uncatalyzed it has taken
overnight to cure through.


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