Quick question, I am replacing the deck in my skiff and need a little help. I have everything cut out and ready to go back in but I am unsure how I need to glue the new sheet to the stringers. I am using poly. resin for the glass work because that was what the boat was built with. Should I make a paste with the resin for the glue or should I use something like 5200? In addition to the glue I am also using SS screws.
I'm about to do the same job on a small boat of mine. I'm going to bond the deck to the stringers with 2 or 3 strips of 3/4 oz. mat wetted out with resin. I'm not going to use screws because I feel that screws create point loads which will lead to localized cracking as the deck flexes allowing moisture into the core. It is very important that gaps between the stringers and deck are minimized to less than the thickness of your mat strips and you need to use lots of weight on top of the deck to ensure a flush bond using this method. Also scuff off the underside of the deck where it meets each stringer to allow for a good bond.
5200 would work as well, I just tend to avoid the stuff whenever possible. I can't seem to use it without making a mess.
Ventilation of the bilge area is key to preventing a deck from rotting out and small boats never have appropriate means for ventilation.
If you have wood or fiberglass over wood stringers, my suggestion is Sikaflex adhesive and wood screws. If you have solid glass stringers, my suggestion is West System epoxy thickened with high density filler.
Did you glass the underside of the decking? You stated that you are using poly resins.Does it have wax in it?
If it were me,I would make a paste out of epoxy resin and micro. Lay it thick,then just lay the decking on top.From there add strips of 2"x4" on top of everywere the decking meets the stringer system and then add weight on top of them till the resin cures.I wouldn't use screws at all.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
