Re: [Paddlewise] pressurize the boat / glass construction

From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
Date: Sat, 07 Apr 2007 19:38:48 -0700
Thanks Mike.

Tord mentioned rivets too. Seam joints can be such a riveting discussion I 
guess. Well, actually, I was just speaking with Mike about his Michigan Lake 
crossing; he said he was in the borrowed Epic Endurance because his own Epic 
Endurance had undergone catastrophic seam failure in the surf prior to the 
trip, both sides of the cockpit I believe. It was subsequently fixed but 
apparently he didn't want to use it for the crossing (I think he said there 
were some further complications that hadn't been dealt with). Generally, the 
Epic kayaks are very well made using epoxy resins, etc.

I  believe the Epic kayaks use the overlap seam joint (someone correct me if 
I'm wrong), so I'm not sure if that is a weakness, or if the surf on Lake 
Michigan was a little too severe for the kayaks intended, designed use. 
Apparently, Lake Michigan does get some big surf I was reminded tonight. I 
made a joke the other day about glassing both sides of an overlapping joint. 
Maybe that ain't a bad idea.

Well, I have about 5 pounds of epoxy seaming I added to my Nordkapp. 
Overkill for a boat perhaps, but underkill perhaps for the paddler. :-)

Doug L


> It was a failure of the glue joint. I notice on my new boat you can see a 
> couple screw heads throught the seam tape that I didn't notice on my first 
> boat. Perhaps along the lines of the rivet use in aircraft.
> I figure the narrow bow and stern might be the weak link in getting 
> pressure on the two surfaces while the glue cures.
> Mark
>
>
>
>> Did the glue joint delaminate, or was it split just above or below the 
>> overlap joint?
>>
>> Doug Lloyd
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Received on Sat Apr 07 2007 - 19:39:07 PDT

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