how much biaxl cloth/resin for transom job?
 

Ready to start the process of re-coring the transom of my 81' scepter with 2 sheets of carbon core .75 inch and am curious about the amount of materials I will need for purposes of shopping for the best ballpark price.

I am estimating about a 5 gallon bucket of resin with accompanying hardener, and about 50 yards which would include some limited stringer and knee work back there.

What are your thoughts on how much resin and cloth is going to be needed. We are novice builders and will not be savvy in product use so I am fine with a bit of overkill. We'll also be working on other fiberglass issues moving forward.

Thanks for your advice!

50 yards of 1708 38" fabric is way overkill. You can probably get away with 10 yards of 1708 for the transom from the inside and use the scraps for the knees.

Transom job will take 5+ gallons of resin from the inside. Less from the outside.

Definitely do not need 50 yards, 20 should be enough to put in a new inside skin and extend stringers. Depending on your lamination skills, each layer of 1708 will give about 1/16"

We have free shipping on that quantity of 1708.

Also have the carbon core foam on sale, may or may not make sense with freight (it's about $150 to ship a couple sheets of transom foam)

Hi Joel-

What are your thoughts on the kevlar-CF hybrid cloth? I know it is more expensive, but I understand it is stronger so you would need fewer "plys" to achieve the same strength and save weight at the same time so that the cost difference may not be as great as it originally appears. I have also heard that it is a little easier to wet out although I am less sure about this. Or am I full of mis-information?

Thanks, Jamie

Jamie - Your seacraft hull was built 35 years ago with 18oz roving, fiberglass mat, and polyester resin. Don't reinvent the wheel with fancy kevlar fabric unless you are making a bullet proof vest. Use 1708 or 1808 depending on which resin you are working with . . . . Watch out for fabric with a glue binder if you are using epoxy resin. Ratio of resin to fabric is roughly 60% resin/40% fabric . . . hope that helps.

Hi Big,

Thank you for the info. This is not my boat- I was just curious but definitely appreciate the info.

Appreciate all the knowledge and openess to help.

Jamie

I see no significant (possibly none) advantage in using the hybrid cloth in this particular application

You can get better strength/weight by using epoxy (doesn't require mat). But in a transom skin, extra bulk is not a bad thing. There are better places to save weight IMO