My forward beam is starting to flex and my gelcoat is in bad shape so I'm going to pull the boat apart and regelcoat it.

Should I bed the beams in with thickened epoxy?

The gelcoat will be rolled on because I'm unwilling to deal with any amount of overspray.

Had a nice run out into the Gulf from the Sanibel Causeway yesterday. I'm satisfied the causeway is the nicest spot to sail from in all of Florida.

Cheers!

Seating Beams Discussion. Why would it flex now and not before? If the beam was seated to begin with, it should just be loose bolts. Otherwise, there is something else going on.

IMHO, I would not recommend rolling on gel coat for an entire hull. Maybe a small patch just because it is a hassle for setup and clean up.

Thanks Kris.

I've sprayed more paint than I care to remember, I'm done with it. I have a nice big oak tree, it is perfect for a day or two of wet sanding and buffing!

How much prebend do you put on the main beam with the dolfin striker bolt?
I have read from 1/4" to 3/8".
Interestingly one assembles the cat with no prebend?
Will you reseat the rear beam?

I've never measured it. I whack it with a wrench from time to ime, if it gives a nice bell like ring, I call it good.

I'll reseat both beams. I'm thinking the bolt has just backed off, but while I have it apart I'll give it a good look-see.

Problem I have read about rolling are tiny bubbles that you cannot see and are encapsulated in the gel coat. With such a big job, spraying is the way to go.

As much as I hate spending money, I'm always glad when I get my hulls back from a good boat repair shop. It is cheaper than a new boat yet looks like a new boat. Save the big oak tree for waxing, buffing, and NAPPING.

I've rolled quite a bit of gel coat and the bubbles are a problem but they're manageable and have not led to any failures, at least not yet...

I'm cheap, the cost of living continues to rise and I have lots of time...I think.

If the bolts are tight it may be the beams. I was talking to a Robbie and he told me that the torando guys replace the beams because they start to flex after a period of time.

I imagine it's just the bolts. I'm terrible about checking such things.