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Oxford Shell: glassing the deck ?

Submitted by Dr. Pepper - Wed, 6/19/13 » 2:48 PM

I noticed the most of the kayaks will have their decks glassed in addition to be covered with epoxy. However, the instructions for the Oxford Shell do not mention covering the deck with fiberglass.

Any reason why it is not required for the shell but needed for the kayaks? Do the kayaks need the extra strength from the glass because of the access hatches cut into the deck?

Thanks for any explanations!

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RE: Oxford Shell: glassing the deck ?

» Submitted by JohnT - Wed, 6/19/13 » 3:22 PM

My son and I just completed one of these, and we glassed the deck. I previously built a Ches 17LT before, so I may have made an erroneous assumption that the deck was to be glassed - but I thought it was called for (and they sent enough fiberglass for it).

In truth, however, the deck of a shell may not need the strength or abrasion resistance of a kayak deck. You don't have hatches or carry gear or self-rescue on the decks. To save weight, one might tape the seams (I'd hate for the deck to delaminate, leak, or otherwise come off at the edges), paint the deck with unthickened epoxy and save a little weight.

I thougth the instructions were to glass the deck, though.