Poor Pete, a brand new boat and no wind. I feel sorry for you!


If you are building a part you want to make as light as possible and of high quality, you use vacum bagging. Also, if you need to build a complex shape, laying up wet glass can be difficult.
With vacum bagging you get a better glass/resin ratio (if you use proper bleeder cloth to absorb the surplus resin, I dont think Erez did), you also remove the possibility of voids and air pockets in the laminate. If laminating to e.g. foam, you are also sure there is contact between the glass and foam all the way (no voids). Personally, I always vacum-bag parts if I can, becouse I find the process much cleaner. Just wet out the cloth, lay it up and put it in the bag. Instead of working out all the air bubbles by hand.

A pump dont need to be expensive. An old car air-conditioner compressor is perfectly good. I used an old compressor from a frigde for two years before I was donated a vacuum pump from a scientific institution. Other venues are old milking machines, dentists and wherever they use a compressor or vacuum pump.
I got a three cylinder air compressor from a dentist when they buildt a new clinic


I know of serveral projects that have been done with refridgerator compressors. Among them a 28foot hull and a 45foot carbon mast. Just make sure you have one in backup in case the compressor dies while you make an expensive part.