My old long board was falling apart and was not stiff enough so I made a new one today. Another problem was the sandpaper strips were peeling off of the ends from flex in the board. Initial test today was good. I used a 3 ply sheet of 1/8” plywood and covered it with one layer of 200 gram carbon uni on one face. This made a stiff board but it had enough flex in it to conform to the shape and spring back straight after I was done. I made it wide enough for three strips of standard air file paper, tacky backed it comes in a roll.
Mike Shappell www.themanshed.com TMS-20 Builder G-Cat 5.7 - Current Boat NACRA 5.2 - early 70's
My old long board was falling apart and was not stiff enough so I made a new one today. Another problem was the sandpaper strips were peeling off of the ends from flex in the board. Initial test today was good. I used a 3 ply sheet of 1/8” plywood and covered it with one layer of 200 gram carbon uni on one face. This made a stiff board but it had enough flex in it to conform to the shape and spring back straight after I was done. I made it wide enough for three strips of standard air file paper, tacky backed it comes in a roll.
This is what you use to fair a hull. Power sanders are nice for getting it into the ballpark - but you can't beat a good long board and a little elbow grease.
Correct stiffness is key and that can change depending on what kind of hull you are working on. You can make a long board out of anything - I managed to find some 4" wide plastic extrusion in a "C" shape (used for conveyor rails) and I placed a piece of 1/8" aluminum inside with some tubing bolted in place (through the aluminum - not the plastic). The UHMW plastic takes sticky back sandpaper well and releases it very well too. You can get rolls of sticky back sandpaper at Lowe's and it's a very economical method...$9 to $12 per roll and they last forever.
I used to long block ENTIRE offshore fishing boats when we built them. It is def. the best way to get a fair surface , but for getting out the bulk before it matters that airfile looks sweet, and trust me, after doing one of these you don't want to look at a long block for a long time, if ever.
"I said, now, I said ,pay attention boy!"
The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea Isak Dinesen If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most. E. B. White
You are both right! The in-line air sander is great for rough cutting and shaping, and then you pull out the long board. I'll switch between the two to check fairness. In a small job even the bottoms of a cat you can do a good job with power tools if you have the skill. One thing about power tools a little wobble and a mistake becomes a big problem really fast. But in composites it’s no big deal, an expensive sports car that’s different. I started out doing body work and show cars as a hobby, so I'm very comfortable behind a power tools doing delicate work. I've been faring and sanding for many years. Some people can fair and some cannot – me I can’t sing worth a shoot so I don’t try but I can play a radio!
Tod Nice boat what is it?
Last edited by TheManShed; 04/18/1004:19 PM.
Mike Shappell www.themanshed.com TMS-20 Builder G-Cat 5.7 - Current Boat NACRA 5.2 - early 70's
That's a Paul Mann Custom. I didn't work on that exact one ,but built a few just like it while working for Paul Mann Custom boats and Sonny Briggs of Briggs Boatworks.Check out some of the interiors.
The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea Isak Dinesen If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most. E. B. White
The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea Isak Dinesen If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most. E. B. White
The old bottom job! Looks like just paint and no glass that is good. Yep the in-line air sander would have made it easier.
Today I cut in the bow and faired the decks some more. I need to locate and fit the deck lids so I can cut holes to get forward of the main bulkhead. I need access to finish attaching the bulkheads and tape the hull seams.
Mike Shappell www.themanshed.com TMS-20 Builder G-Cat 5.7 - Current Boat NACRA 5.2 - early 70's
That's a Paul Mann Custom. I didn't work on that exact one ,but built a few just like it while working for Paul Mann Custom boats and Sonny Briggs of Briggs Boatworks.Check out some of the interiors.
The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea Isak Dinesen If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most. E. B. White
Thanks! Andrew I don't suppose everybody wants to stay unemployed but right now the job market sucks so the boat building thing is keeping me going and who knows it may pay off in the future. I get several Email each week on people asking me for help, hints, and questions. The corporate job I had started to get pretty bad and I was getting to the point I did not like to travel. Last year was really good so I'm enjoying the break.
Mike Shappell www.themanshed.com TMS-20 Builder G-Cat 5.7 - Current Boat NACRA 5.2 - early 70's
