Glen L 15 1974

[WojoW]

Got the boat home last weekend. Was stored in the open garden shed for last 29 years......would like to fix few things....freshen up the paint, etc etc.
First things to do would be to install coaming.
Plans are calling for 1/4" by 3" wide mahogany strip....wander if I can go with 1/4" plywood??

[vupilot]

I would go with the solid lumber.

[Stuart]

Why would you use plywood? I don't understand the advantage that you might find in using a laminate on thin sections. In use, paint damage and wear occur more often on the edges of a part. With plywood, the glue while excellent, its quantity is minimal and is not able to resist the effects of excessive temperature and moisture motility. The fibers that are exposed separate more rapidly from the inertia moments that tend to pull the laminate apart. With solid wood, the fibers are not bound by glue from which to gain stress risers and leverage but it is homogenious and forces are transfered consistantly and deeper through the wood thereby preventing the surface delamination that plywood suffers from. However, if you coat the plywood with a layer of fiberglass then what difference would it make. Natural wood would look nicer though.

Stuart

[WojoW]

Stuart,

I would use a plywood for co$t reasons.....but I wasn't sure if I should, so I asked the question,
thank you for your response - very informative!
I was thinking to coat the coaming with epoxy and varnish it.....would like to have some bright finish here and there

Wojo

[WojoW]

trying to get the boat ready for this season - at least as a row/motor boat. Looking into installing some sort of floor boards - have some western red cedar 5/8 thick boards, if I install them this way - would that compromise the strength of the boat ??

[WojoW]

sails are up

[WojoW]

...first time in the water - floats great...no leaks
sitting on centerboard box, and looks like the location of the oarlocks and the seat is perfect

[WojoW]

oars shortened to fit....
Sea trial of oars and Seagull Forty Plus

[Okiefish]

Would like to know where you would get 1/4' plywood. What I am finding is .141 inch (sort of fat 1/8) but I am afraid to use it.

[Stuart]

Plywood should be available locally to you. An internet search might turn up a mill or exotic wood supply. Plywood comes is several basic types according to its thickness, the number of laminations, the type of wood, the quality of the wood and the glue. For marine use you should look for a designated 'marine ply' which has a Lloyds quality number. Some folk have used exterior grade plywood with success. 1/4" ply should be very common in your area but you can also locate 1/16" and 1/8" but the selection of wood types may not be numerous. Depending on what you are using the ply for will to some extent identify the number of plys. The greater the number of plys, the more flexible the board. However, with 1/4" less than 2 plys is not desirable. It may be stiffer but it has no strength. The wood itself should be free of seams, voids and knots which may cause the wood to break on hard bends or when bumped into a dock, such as. Also of the marine plywood grades some woods are heavier as well as stronger. With 1/4" I would look for a harder heavier wood without voids, 4 ply, marine grade but it depends what you are using it for and if it will be epoxy encapsulated or just painted.

[Okiefish]

Thanks still looking. May have to go to Sacramento. I did find a place that has everything I want its just down the road seven hundred miles...

[WojoW]

Finally made a video of myself rowing the boat:

http://youtu.be/6pA5doUVDSU

[WojoW]

....... have my Seagull Forty Plus (2-3 HP) on the boat. Max speed with the tide was 5mph.
HP recommendation is 7HP per designer.
I am trying to find out what the max speed with 7HP motor would be.

Here is video......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uftawhwmck

[WojoW]

Can't believe that is has been 4 years since I got the boat! Have fun boating with grandkids etc. This year decided to spruce it up a little. Boat was build well, but I wanted some bright finishes here and there.....
....so I tkk the decks off

then installed new decks....1/4" marine plywood

now trying to fit 15HP outboard with remote controls