Re: First Kayak Air Bubbl

Posted by terry on Jan 3, 2005

Sounds like Mac's diagnosis is right, Parke: you have some voids where the glass has not adhered to the wood. Not a huge problem, with only 10, dime-sized voids, but a bit more complicated to repair if you're set on varnishing the entire hull.

As the epoxy is cured, you have two options:

1. set the hull so a void is as level as possible. Drill a small (say, 1/16") hole in the middle of the void. Get some 1 cc syringes from the drug store, and use it to slowly force unthickened epoxy into the void. It may take some doing to get all the air out.

Or . . .

2. Run the sander over the area a bit, which will thin the glass at the void and help new epoxy adhere to the surrounding area. Then carve out the glass over the void with a sharp, single-edged razor blade or box cutter. Mix up a small batch of clear epoxy, let it set up to a thick consistency, then apply it to the void. You can smooth it with a putty knife dipped in white vinegar, or wait overnight and smooth with a sharp scraper. This should give you a clear repair that will be difficult to detect from any distance. For voids this small, you don't need to patch in more glass, unless the void in on a high-wear area like the keel at each end of the boat.

Good luck

terry

In Response to: Re: First Kayak Air Bubbl by Parke on Jan 3, 2005

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