Scarfing post mortem

Ok.  I admit defeat on scarfing the panels.  After fairing and filling the first two panels on for the bottom, I have decided to just do the fiberglass scarf joints as outlined on the plans.  I did my Michalak skiff this way, and the seam is not noticeable to the uneducated eye.  I figure that if I need to sand and fair, I might as well make it easy.  Hope to get the foward panels on the bottom this weekend and build the sides as well.  the switch to standard stitch and glue should speed things up.

Also was slowed down by work, weather, and some damage to the transom on the Bolger 18 workskiff.  (nothing serious, just a hairline crack in the glass where it had not adhered well.  No water present!)

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Bottom panels complete

Here are the two bottom panels taped and cut to shape.  I feel as if I am in the groove now and can get the side panels out a little quicker now. 

 

I did experiment with a number of release films for the fiberglass epoxy tape joints.

1.  6 mm plastic - was hard to get flat and fair.  wrinkles developed easily

2.  packing tape - harder to apply, but left a relatively smooth controllable surface.

3.  wax paper - best looking joint, but waxy residue must be cleaned.  I was warned by a more experienced builder that the wax could separate out of the paper, leaving a ghastly mess to clean up.  I did experience a little of this in the top joint, when I tried to remove the paper prior to full cure.  

Bottom line - will stick with the 6 mm plastic.  a little extra filling and sanding is part of the project.   

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Scarfed panel

Finally!  One completed Bottom panel.  Its twin is in the background setting up.  I actually used packing tape to smooth out the fiberglass tape.  Things have sped up immensely since not doing the 8:1 scarfs and using 3" tape instead.  Apart from forgetting to clean two brushes (was having a contest as to how long I could get a cheapo chip brush to go).  The new yogurt containers for Greek yogurt work great for mixing small batches of epoxy.  they clean right out after the epoxy sets up.  

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scarfing the panels

Looking forward to working in the downstairs workshop.  I put a wide sawhorse under the panels being joined, put down a layer of plastic, and then primed with a coat of epoxy, then followed that with a slightly thickened batch of epoxy with silica added.  A piece of mahogany weighed down with paint cans and water bottles will hold the panels while the epoxy sets up.

Outside in the garage, I finished laying out the forward bottom panel.  Will cut tomorrow and splice into the other bottom panels.  Scarf will be 2" for an 8:1 scarf.  Pretty simple.  tough part will be cleaning the garage to make the second scarf joint.  

When I took this off the "press" both corners did not seat well.  It took a few minutes with a belt sander and then a follow up with a little fairing compound to get a nice smooth filet.  Front side was fine.  Back side a little messy.  On the second attempt, I clamped the mahogany board down on each end and already see an improvement.  Nothing a little filler cant fix.   The second panel yielded the same results.  I believe that my mahogany clamp is not flexible enough to get good pressure on the edges.  

Forward panel is scribed and ready to cut.  

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