Re: [Paddlewise] Reinforcing Flimsy Back Deck

From: Nick Von Robison <n.v.rob_at_deltanet.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 13:29:49 -0800
> > > I have a vintage 1993 Eddyline Wind Dancer, which has a too-light layup
> > >on the back deck, aft of the rear hatch.  It's strong enough, but just not
> > > rigid enough. [snip]
>

Dave, first take a look at Ferenc Mates' book "From a Bare Hull" (1983 Albatross
pubs.) where he gets into strengthening fiberglass decks in yachts in some detail.
He uses closed cell ureathane foam shaped like a squared or trapazoid (?) beam,
contact glued to the underside, then a couple layers of cloth laid up over it and
tapered.  The foam obviously doesn't give any stiffness or rigidity (maybe some
flotation?) but it's the shape of the "beam" that does the stiffening.  Those beams
probably wouldn't have to be any more than 1.5" x 3.4" so you wouldn't be losing
much room in the bulkhead.

Think about the top of a wooden acoustic guitar.  Those tops are about 7/64" thick
and even if you tripled the thickness, you'd still not get the ridigity of thin the
fan bracing inside
the guitar.  My$.02.

-Nick




***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
Received on Mon Feb 21 2000 - 17:56:11 PST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:20 PDT