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 3M™ 4200 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 Elasta-Tuff™ 6000-AL-HS, or just the Elasta-Tuff™ 6000-AL-HS 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