1st post, looking for advice

[earle]

Originally Posted by smokeonthewater

I would absolutely use epoxy... I get mine from Jamestown distributors.

If a single piece of ply will fit and lay correctly I would def go that route and def prefab as much as possible.

If you can build outside the boat and simply 'glue' in place you will be way ahead of the game.... The thought of glass work over my head, face, and chest makes me want to shoot myself..... Btw I have to do the same repair soon to my 26' carver.

Thank you (and Skunkboat). A quick measuring shows that it can be done in one piece. Going to go that route and hopefully save a lot of work and time.

[smokeonthewater]

Be sure to let me know if an armpit full of resin is as much fun as I think it is....

[Striper80]

An eye dropper works well to measure hardener when mixing poly resin and gelcoat. I use the leftover ones that have ml markings on them.

[scook]

One piece is definitely the easiest (as big a piece as you can get into the cabin) but you need to be sure the surface above is flat enough that the plywood will stick to the whole surface. Take a straight edge, a level, aluminum bar stock, etc., and check the surface for flatness so you know what you're dealing with.

When you dry fit the plywood, make some sticks the right length from scrap lumber to wedge in under it and have them handy when you goop it up to hold it firmly up against the overhead.

[earle]

Originally Posted by scook

One piece is definitely the easiest (as big a piece as you can get into the cabin) but you need to be sure the surface above is flat enough that the plywood will stick to the whole surface. Take a straight edge, a level, aluminum bar stock, etc., and check the surface for flatness so you know what you're dealing with.

When you dry fit the plywood, make some sticks the right length from scrap lumber to wedge in under it and have them handy when you goop it up to hold it firmly up against the overhead.

Thanks for the tip. Exactly what I was mulling over. I'm going to get 3 or 4 strait pieces of lumber, long enough to reach over the entire width of the top of the deck, and put a bit of weight on each end of them. Then when I fit the new piece underneath I can temporarily shim it using your suggested wedges. As long as the top strait edges remain flat on the deck, with no high/low spots, I should be okay.

[scook]

I'd brace it up so there's at least some hump in it - you don't want puddles on your deck.

[earle]

Originally Posted by scook

I'd brace it up so there's at least some hump in it - you don't want puddles on your deck.

I understand. I was thinking the same thing, but can't figure out how to do it, unless I glue the plywood up first and then glass the cross supports in place. Even then, will there be enough flex in the plywood to raise the centre line a bit after it's glued to the top?