Engel Lafayette Build

[Oldus Fartus]

Starting a Lafayette build and was wondering the best material to seal up the micro-pores in the factory seam between the upper and lower hull sections.
Instructions suggest using a "2-part filler" but the only thing I could find is basically 1-hr epoxy with micro-balloons...and suggestions?

[bigdave]

Good choice. Great boat.
DonO has two of them I will email him about this post. BD

[dono]

I built my kit about 12 years ago so I don't remember exactly what I used on the seam. I have used nitro Stan, which is a car body filler in a tube. It will shrink a bit when it dries. It is available at auto parts or body stores. Also some folks have used ever coat filler. Hope this helps.

[Guest]

Use a good epoxy with either silica or microballoons to give it a bit of anti-sag. Common problem with this boat.

[Oldus Fartus]

Filler

Use a good epoxy with either silica or microballoons to give it a bit of anti-sag. Common problem with this boat.

Yes I was thinking about using 1-hr epoxy with some microballoons. I have heard that if you make it too porous then you end up having to go back over it with straight epoxy to get a watertight seal.
Thanks,
Pete

[Guest]

I like to use 24 hour cure epoxies- you know they will be waterproof. Plus I would allow at least a week to cure through before committing it to water.

[thor]

Micro balloons are much harder to sand down than thixotropic(fumed) silica.

[crueby]

Just be careful transferring them into the epoxy and mixing, the stuff I use (West System) is very finely ground, likes to float up into the air at the lightest touch, and you dont want to breath it. Just move slow and dont have the fan blowing at you! Works terrific though, I use it on the models and the full size boats.

[Guest]

Generally you will be applying the epoxy mix from the inside of the boat, so sanding not required. Do one side at a time allowing to cure to a tack before doing the other.

[Oldus Fartus]

Sealing the seam from the INSIDE?

Generally you will be applying the epoxy mix from the inside of the boat, so sanding not required. Do one side at a time allowing to cure to a tack before doing the other.

Which brings up another question...the hull is already joined and very long...

How the heck do you apply epoxy to the seam from INSIDE the hull?

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Long curved stick and a mirror.

[crueby]

When joining the top/bottom half of cedar strip kayaks (the halfs are fiberglassed over inside and out and then joined with a strip of glass cloth and epoxy inside and out), the trick was to tape a paintbrush on the end of a stick with an angled end, and run that down the inside from the cockpit opening. First though, we painters-taped over the seam on the outside to prevent any epoxy from running through any cracks. Tipped the hull up, and poured in some epoxy (thickened if need be) and then used the brush on a stick to spread it along the seam better. Same technique should work on your sub, just a shorter stick (a 17' kayak needed a REALLY long one).

[Oldus Fartus]

OK, after a lot of blood, sweat & swearing I managed to use an acid brush on the end of a LONG aluminum tube to seal the seam on the inside of both hull sections (front and rear) with 1-hour epoxy. Filled hull with water and there are no leaks.
For the outside seam Engel recommended a 2-part filler so I tried Bondo...worked, but sanding that stuff is like sanding diamonds...LOL!
Anyone know a better sanding filler?

[eckloss]

evercoat

https://www.amazon.com/Fibreglass-Evercoat-400-Polyester-Glazing/dp/B0000AZ5PM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1474919383&sr=8-3&keywords=evercoat

[Oldus Fartus]

Evercoat

evercoat

https://www.amazon.com/Fibreglass-Ev...words=evercoat

It looks like it would also be good to contour the area where the missile compartment is glued to the hull to make a nice smooth transition...thanks!