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Q. I epoxy coated my hull but a small area near the transom was still sticky even after a few days. I painted it but even the paint didn't dry there. What's happened?
SSC. This is called "amine blush" and it must be removed with hot soapy water and a sponge scourer before re-coating or painting/varnishing. Adding more epoxy mix will not stop it. It is caused by incorrect mixing and low temperatures. Ensure you have the correct amount of hardener to resin to avoid this problem. If it occurs on a fillet, it can weaken the joint so, once removed, apply some fibre glass tape to the affected area.
Q. I am building a WINCHELSEA 10 and the fore and aft moulds seem to be getting in the way. What can I do?
SSC. This problem has cropped up a couple of times and the answer is simply to take them out and screw or stitch the planks to the lap lines. We are now using this method in other designs.
Q. Can I move the seat in Winchelsea to suit me?
SSC. Yes. The balance of a small boat such as this is largely dictated by crew and gear weight and position. It would be good practice to leave final fitting of the the seats till after launching to be sure of getting it right. Similarly, the position of the rowlocks can be altered to suit. The beauty of building your own boat is that you can adapt it to suit your particular requirements.
Q. I have some polyester resin, is it the same as epoxy?
SSC. The two are not the same and cannot be mixed. Epoxy is far stronger than polyester but that does not mean polyester can't be used. Personally, I would only use polyester, were I to use it at all, for pure stitch & tape designs. I know of many Mirror dinghies built using polyester and they have lasted well. Epoxy, though, is stronger and should be used for our clinker ply designs (Winchelsea).
Q. I want to build a Rye Bay 10 but feel it might be to big for a first project. How easy is it?
SSC. I have no way of knowing your ability however, I have written the plans with the novice in mind. Try building the practice piece that comes with the plans first. Or, if they are available, try our free plans.
Q. Can I increase the sail area for Winchelsea?
SSC. Yes, the plans now detail adding a sail rig. A recent builder added a bow sprit and fore sail.
Q. The sail area seems a bit small. Why?
SSC. It is fairly small but it is enough to move the boat at a decent speed. More sail area can be added but you would have to do it by trial and error.
Q. Can I build RyeBay totally in 4mm plywood?
SSC. Yes, but only for light use. It is recommended that 6mm ply is used on the bottom. Extra strengthening will be needed if 4mm is used.
Q. How do I clean up hardened epoxy?
SSC. Get a hair dryer or a hot air gun and warm a scraper. Then apply the heat to the epoxy to soften it and remove with scraper.
Q. I’ve got some wire stitches with epoxy on them and I can’t get some of the wire out. What do I do?
SSC. Use a soldering iron to heat the wire and it will pull out easily.
Q. I have some interior ply. If I give it a good coat of epoxy, can I use it?
SSC. I wouldn’t recommend it. Interior plywood does not like getting wet and would de-laminate quite quickly.
Q. I want a bigger boat. Can I scale up your plans?
SSC. The designs might lend themselves to a small increase but it is not ideal and I don’t advise it.
Q. I have a complete, single sail rig that came from a similar size boat. Can I use it for your Winchelsea design and how?
SSC. You very probably can. If you still have the other boat for reference, try the rig in a similar position. It’s trial and error I’m afraid. You will have to find a way to temporarily hold the mast in place. I have used ply cross bar at the gunwales with a hole in the centre for the mast and held by some clamps along with an assortment of wedges and small clip type clamps at the base in the case of Winchelsea. With RyeBay, I had to screw a temporary pad to the centre line and then another piece with a hole for the mast screwed to that. The dagger board is forward of the centre seat and I have found that to use the forward edge of the seat as a reference point, add the dagger board case you have or one to take a 250mm wide board along the centre line and the same height as the seat. The board is around 800mm long. The rudder, in most cases, can be one from a similar boat with a similar angle at the transom, or build a simple one. This is only very basic information.
Q. Can I use exterior grade plywood?
SSC. Yes, unless your boat will live on the water. Make sure you buy the best you can find with no voids and check again when your planks etc. are cut out. Any gaps between the veneers must be repaired.
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Copyright STANLEY SmallCraft 2009
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