Show Sports Af Me 0 0 eid By TED KESTING RESTING Today wood boats are arc taking on a new look They are being c covered vered with a new material material- glass cloth with resin filler and binder This material not only y permanently the craft but also adds strength and cuts out a lot of upkeep work such as painting calking and minor leak repairs The average sportsman with no previous experience can do a serviceable job fob of covering a small boat with glass cloth if he heis heis hes is s at all handy with tools fools and if it he will take time to study the job carefully and practice a little before starting All manufacturers of glass cloth offer good instructions but they point out that there are some pitfalls you must watch out for One cautions against using more resin than necessary to fill the cloth especially on the fina cloat Gloat because a bumpy surface will result The covering can shrink someOne some One manufacturer says 2 per perr cent So to prevent pulling away at nt the keel overlapping there is often recommended Only cloth that's intended for boats should be used The hull must be dry before you start to work Wear Vear goggles while youre you're sanding glass cloth Some even recommend nose pads too to keep glass dust out of your lungs What sort o of boat can the amateur amateur amateur ama ama- cover with the best chance of success Willard Villard Crandall boats and motors expert for Sports Afield magazine says to leave the new factory built craft alone alorie A good new boat sh should give you excellent initial service as as' is The time to consider glass cloth is when u use and wear u start to take their toll Also the amateur should not waste time and money on a craft with shot framework It is too much to expect that glass cloth will hold together anything like that for long or that rot will stop if hidden by glass cloth or that it will make bad planking sound Some outboards that have hove oil and ana been used a lot may have grease soaked through the aft making adherence adherence ad adherence ad- ad planking or transom of the glass lamination impossible be Any type of bottom can covered round covered round V flat lat or com com- abrasion as ns w Well and contracts and expands a minimum your youn r I most successful glass coverings can probably be made on ply ply- plywood plywood wood craft Second best bets aro arC plank narrow planked plank plank- double planked double planked or narrow ed boats |