The sides are coming along great. I'm not the greatest at glass work however kinda having fun with it. I have found that thinking ahead without over thinking is the way to go. That thin aluminum might be the way to go for the center piece. If not I'm going to fab up a piece of cut to fit luon off the boat and just make a relatively thin piece and tab it in and start building layers. I have noticed when building up the layers to only do 2 or 3 at a time and block it out in between and occasionally filling low spots with 1 1/2 ounce before laying down next layer of 1708 I think it is. I will continue to post pics in case anyone is following thread. Hopefully somebody might find it helpful at some point.

Where I live you have to be self taught in many different areas due to being so far away from various shops etc. the nice thing about fiberglass is if you make a mistake or don't like the way something turned out or perhaps you discovered a better way you just cut it out and start over. Occasionaly some time and material wasted but hey...

Some inside pics

More pics

This is the center section I fabbed up off the boat. Tomorrow will trim to fit close to exact placement and start tabbing in once I'm comfortable with its position. This part I am really curious how it will all turn out. Will post pics with it in position later.

Center section tabbed in.

Center piece roughed in.

Update on center section. Using 1808. Seems to lay down wl.

I've been doing a light sand btwn layers of glass to get the nibs etc as well as some shaping in some areas so you'll notice what appears to be air bubbles however most of it is the lighter color underneath. I do however guarantee there are air bubble here and there also. I think it's near impossible to a 100% of them but I do my best. Also the 1808 doesn't wet out as easily as the 1708 however I wanted to use up what I had left.

yes 1808 does in fact not wet out as well as 1708. 1808 is an import fabric, decent stuff but tends to be coarser on the surface and the 0/90 orientation doesn't help. !708 is, in general, an E glass variant and the 45/45 bias ply's are finer plus it drapes much better. When you get to your final layer put down a layer of peel ply as the final surface laminate, laminate it in just as if it were your last layer of fiberglass. After is cured rip the peel ply off and you will have a much easier time fairing it out.


lookin good though, i like the shape of the new deck.

5th layer today. I've got one more layer with the 1808 and then going back to the 1708. Planning on about 3 layers with the 1708 and then gonna look into what glass Dave had mentioned for topcoat. I had planned on a couple layers of 1 1/2 ounce chopped for finish coat sanding etc however the peel ply sounds like the way to go. Trying to achieve 1/4" + - as well as reinforcing the underside as well. I found using smaller strips working upside down works much better so u don't end up with material in your lap.

Tks glass dave. I appreciate you cking in on progress as well as any insight u may have.
John