Restofish

[Finaddict]

Sometimes air-pockets happen; especially when working a big area by yourself and time runs out (if continously rolled as the resin sets they will entirely go away). When air pockets happen it will be obvious later when sanding.

First grind & feather the effected area, then cut fiberglass cloth to size

Remove cloth, apply resin & adheasive mix, replace cloth & cover with polyproplyene plastic & work out air out. Applying plastic seals the resin in & prevents air bubbles/pockets. It also helps to combat the effects of gravity. Remember that polyproplene will not adhere to epoxy resin so removal later is easy.

[fossle8me]

Hi, I have a '59 Red Fish and am very interested in what you are doing. If I may, a couple of questions?
1-My floor just has stringers but no air boxes for seats. I am thinking of replacing the stringers with aluminum channel, maybe 1/2" x 2" or similar and then build seat boxes after glassing the stringers. Would that be a mistake or a sensible idea?
2- I am under the impression that the hull and top half (deck?) separate at the transom and then the wood is cut out from the inside. Yours looks different. I can't swear that mine is a '59 but that is what I was told when I bought it. The tail fin has a slightly recessed area like a panel in it and no seat back wing supports up front like your has.
I have restored bikes, cars and houses but never a boat and am looking forward to spending the winter in the garage. Any opinions on the points raised is appreciated.
Thank you, Mike.

[Finaddict]

Hey Mike,

I would like to see some pics of your boat. If your fins are recessed it is a 1960 and it would not have had air chambers. Air chambers were 57 & 58 only, 59 had balsa floors, I am unfamiliar with 60s but can put you on to someone or poke around to get the info you need.

I personnally would not install aluminum stringers as they would not flex as wood stringers and could poke or tear through the fiberglass near the bow where they end.

I would install wood stringers and glass them in like original, probably cedar but would research the wood type (mine were O.K.).

Chris