Glassing the deck

Today I put the fiberglass cloth on the deck of the Petrel. Once the cloth is soaked with epoxy resin it turns clear to show the wood grain underneath.

First glass

Today is a big day for the Petrel build. I just put the first area of fiberglass cloth down with epoxy resin. This starts a process that will take me until spring.  

Sunday, November 30, 2014

This is the first post in three years. I stopped working on this kayak when Dad got sick. I had no time with Dad in hospice and after he passed away I had no wind in my sails. I spent the next two years working at a new job as plant manager at a wheelchair company. This job left me too tired and depressed to work on my time off so the Petrel build just sat for three years. I quit that job last March I now I am back to being myself again.

This week I started working again on the Petrel. It felt so good to be working with my hands again.

Deck layout

To lay out the deck pattern, I used 1/4 x 1/4 strips in different colors to outline the pattern. I used a hot glue gun to glue the strips to the forms.

Once I have an outline to work to, I can start laying strips. These strips do not get glued to the forms at all. I just glue the strips to each other.

If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you will see the fancy grain in the wood. This is Lace wood from Africa. It is very light weight and very easy to work with. Once it is sanded and glassed, the grain will really stand out.

Cockpit recess

I made the cockpit recess by lofting a template from Nick Schade's book. I glued wood strips over the template. After the glue dried, I sanded the wood smooth. Then I put down one layer of 6 oz. glass cloth.

After trimming the outside of the recess to the template, I set the recess in place so that I could lay out my deck pattern.

Back to work again

Well it's about time that I start working on the Petrel again. The building season is getting under way and I have plenty things to do in the MAN CAVE. This winter I plan to finish this Petrel and I have also started building a small boat for fishing called a Coot. You can watch the Coot progress at www.louskayakworks4.blogspot.com .

Here I am laminating the Stern Stem with strips of Ash. I wet the strips with hot water to let them bend without breaking. When the wood dries, the bend will remain and I will glue it all up.

I did the same thing to make the Bow Stem. After glueing is finished, I will shape the Stems with a block plane and sanding block.

Still striping the hull

I have about two hours work left to finish striping the hull.

It looks rough and ugly now, but it will be beautiful after sanding.