Bubbles on the hull

Whilst glassing the hull of my kayak I have encountered a little problem. I have endevoured to spread the epoxy over the glass fiber evenly and firmly with a squeagy ensuring an even coat all over, yet have noticed a load of coin sized bubbles appearing all over the boat. I thought I could saturate them through on the second coat but didnt really help. Should I wait until the hull is completly cured and sand them out and then lay one more coat on or should I give the boat a third coat and sand them out last ? Please help.

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RE: Bubbles on the hull

Hi,

I experienced something similar when I glassed the cockpit and other areas less visible on my boat.  I think it was due to the cloth "floating" and epoxy accumulating under the cloth.  Due to my experience, when I did the bottom, chines, and finally the deck I was very careful to squeegy alot so your problem did not reoccur.  I was successful.  I am not sure you are decribing my problem however.  Is there air in the bubble or just epoxy?  If air just another issue.  Eitherway, prior to your final finish, I would sand flat and move on.  I don't think I would put further cloth over when you might sand thru.  It might become a tail chasing contest. 

Hope this helps.  Another issue you might be dealing with is bubbling of the epoxy due to temperature issues, and I will let others comment on that who know more.

Dan 

RE: Bubbles on the hull

Thanks Dan.

It is actually air trapped underneath the cloth, as oppossed to the cloth floating on the epoxy, so it could be a temperature issue. Although the temp did not increase after glassing...

Annoying but anyway, i´ll sand it when dry then apply another coat. should do the trick.

oh well!!

 

RE: Bubbles on the hull

If you have air bubbles under the glass, sometimes you can slit them open with a sharp utility knife, then press the cloth flat when you add your finish coat of epoxy. If the cloth won't lay flat, cut it away and fill the hole with a tiny scrap of cloth and unthickened epoxy. It doesn't affect the strength of your hull, so no need to overlap the cloth. -Wes

RE: Bubbles on the hull

Sounds like the ambient temp around the kayak warmed substantially after you wetted out the glass.  This will cause excessive out-gassing of the epoxy and the bubbles that you're talking about.  You can inject epoxy into the bubbles to fill the void.

~Chris

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