Key Largo Build in Charleston

[neel thompson]

Mick.... What exactly is epoxy/graphite? Looks interesting

[boisebrit]

Good job Mick looks great, will be following you on Saturday for the bottom of hull, glass and epoxy just arrived.

Bryan

[mickfly]

I mix graphite powder with the epoxy before applying. It is supposed to make the coating harder and reduce friction. I also added a black pigment, supplied by Raka epoxy, to even out the color. Also, Raka recommended I not use graphite for the wet out...so I just used black pigment for that, but now I’m up to five coats af graphite/epoxy on top of the glass.

[mickfly]

Finished glass and epoxy on the sides. There were a few blemishes...spots where the fabric showed...whitish...I sanded one back down to glass and recoated. It looked better. So...I taped off and sanded down eight other spots...then recoated about every two hours with epoxy...to build your it back up. Pictures show repairs after one coat of epoxy. I know most builders don't glass the sides but my boat will be used in salt water and might get some rough treatment.

[mickfly]

I have three coats of varnish (Captains) on the hull bottom and will stop after four. I've read that some builders put wax over the varnish. Suggestions about wax type/number of coats appreciated. I'm on schedule for the "flip" on October 7th. I've just got to get several coats of varnish on the sides and transom. One coat every day until then.

[mickfly]

pictures

[Bill Edmundson]

Nothing like a shiny bottom!

Bill

[rleete]

You're still talking about boats, right?

[mickfly]

October 7...Flip day. We had a BIG party, with about 50 friends. We had about 25 lifting and flipping (everyone wanted in) which made it super easy. Loaded “56” onto the custom built trailer...and rolled her back into the garage. Time to get back to work. I spent a few hours staring at the plans but there are a dozen different things to do.

[boisebrit]

Looks great congrats

[mrintense]

Nice, congratulations on the turn. Now comes more fun.