Glen-L.com

I'm just curious if you must fiberglass the exterior of a plywood boat to make it sea worthy. I'm still researching a 40 yr old sea knight that we may restore. A big issue I have besides condition of the wood is what to do with the exterior of it. It is fully assembled so I don't know if I would be able to glass it easily. Can I just paint it with an epoxy, or is fiberglassing it a must?? We live in upstate NY and it would be on a trailer in my barn most of the time. My goal if restoring it is a possibility would be to use it for weekend trips like crusing the canal. It wouldn't be in the water more than a few days at a time, but if it leaks thats not good (especially if were sleeping!!)

I'm just wondering what the best approach would be.

Fibreglass adds a layer of strength and abrasion resistance. If the underlying wood is sound it is certainly not a must but definitely desirable for a long lasting surface. If the wood is sound. sand it back to bare timber and put on some CPES (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer), then prime and paint. You need 2-3 coats wet on wet for the stuff i use, it soaks in real good and seals everything. All this is no use though if there is rot in the timber, particularly from the inside so check it all carefully.
Best of luck,
Glenn.

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By the time I have built a boat, I'll be ready to build a boat....

Glenn is totally right. You could be fine without fibreglass. But there's the rub. I'm super risk averse and to me a layer of fibreglass represents and insurance policy. Top it off with at least five layers of epoxy and now I'm sleeping so much better on the Erie Canal. You'll be cruising in waters that can be pretty shallow, in parts. That abrasion resistance will also extend the life of the hull. If the plywood is 40 years old, then checking for rot is a must, as Glenn advised. I'm also not so sure that 40 year old plywood is the same quality as what we have available to us today.

I guess Glenn's glass is half full and mine is half empty, but I hope our different perspectives help.

Richard

I am cool with half full or half empty, as lonng as the other half is drinkable...

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By the time I have built a boat, I'll be ready to build a boat....

Yup, definitely, you have to be able to empty the glass.

Cheers.

You guys talking about half empty of half full, I don't even have a glass!

My opinion based on a rather sad day of cutting my boat up with a chainsaw; I will NEVER again build a boat without EVERY surface being covered with at least some thin woven glass. The exterior hull surfaces will be covered with fairly heavy stuff, interior probably 4oz woven.

But that's my opinion after cutting my boat up with a chainsaw last year despite it having several layers of epoxy, primer and paint and still checking horribly.

Your mileage may vary

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I Peter 2:17