Wooden Boat People

By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

Glass Bottom ?

Good morning everyone, I ordered the glass, epoxy, graphit powder on monday from Raka (very nice guys with lots of info) so I plan on applying the glass bottom this weekend. My question is...to apply the chine batten first like Steve Sobba (great looking boat) and others or to apply the glass over the edge of the bottom like Tatman and up the sides/transom then the chine batten? My feelings are; if you apply the chine batten first then the glass and epoxy edge is very weak (at a right angle to the water and obstacles, seems to me that it could get damaged very easily) but if you install the chine batten over the glass and epoxy the chine would not sit very flush with the sides and there would be a small natural lip at the top edge. I was thinking of rabbiting the bottom edge of the sides and transom or rabbiting the battens to accept the thickness of the glass and epoxy so that the the glass is covered by the chine (stronger and not going to get abused by obstacles). Any info would be greatly appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on July 30, 2009 at 6:33am

Ok I just did mine the Tatman way...

Use lighter glass on the part that is wrapped - then you don't have a weird uneven area where the chine goes on.

My chine batten sits nice and flush with the side of the boat over the glass wrap.

Check this previous post out.
http://www.woodenboatpeople.com/forum/topics/fiberglass-bottom-install

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Permalink Reply by E. Landis on August 3, 2009 at 2:36pm

I did the lighter tape for the wrapped portion. It worked out great. I think it was 6 oz tape. No need to rabbit. You can see the tape under the 20 oz sheet but the bump is so small it will not hurt anything. I had to ask for specific directions prior to getting started. A couple of people broke it down nice and simple. Might check the thread.

E. Landis

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Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on August 3, 2009 at 6:54pm

There isn't really a need to rabbit the chine batten. Simply lay the cloth to the same height as the finished chine and place the chine batten right over the top of the cloth. I actually prefer the edge of the wrapped 20oz cloth to only be 1/2 way up the chine batten. This will tip the top of the chine batten (bottom, with the boat upside down) tight against the side panel.

We wrap the 6oz tape to the chine height and then wrap the 20oz cloth over the rounded edge and up the side about 3/4 inch. The chine naturally twists a little depending on the change in flair of the boat. Fasteners pull it in tight. This protects the edge of the fiberglass bottom by tucking it under the chine.

Do not wrap the bottom up and over the chine batten. The first couple of rock smacks will allow water to to sneak in. You cold do the fiberglass after you have installed the chine batten leaving a flat laminated edge that is not tucked under.