Subject: fiberglass/epoxy options for wooden boat
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003

I recently purchased a 1962 Grew (Canadian manufacturer) 16 ft runabout lapstrake boat. I will be running it in the summers only, and do not want to be concerned with soak up every spring, rot etc. Can I cover the hull with fiberglass as a solution? is this a big undertaking or a relatively simple solution? I am most interested in this boat being practical, not in its "original" condition. Thanks. John P.

John,

Fiberglassing it is a relatively big undertaking. And not likely to be completely satisfactory in my opinion. I would be much more inclined to go with a more rubbery coating. Less work to apply, much less liable to be damaged, and easier to repair if it is.

I would flip the boat over and sand to bare wood. If the hull needs any dings or other defects fixed, I would fix them with CPES and Fill-It Filler and/or Dymonic® FC caulk. When that was sanded fair, I would prime the whole thing with CPES, and then put on some coats of our polyurethane coating products. Elastuff 120 covered by Uniflex 255, or just the Uniflex 255 alone. These polyurethane's are quite flexible when cured, and won't crack even when painted over a bead of caulk and then driven over by a truck.

Doc