AUDAX lives! An epoxy question

[Ralph M Bohm]

Hello all!

This is my first post here (to get my feet wet)

Thanks to Jim Conlin for directing me here.

In my plans to create ribs out of oak strips to replace the rotted ones in my cockpit, I have started looking into the resin/hardener component.

I have at least a dozen ribs to replace, along with some extensive work in the bedlog along her amidships and centerboard.

Can anyone tell me from their experience what they feel is the best type(s) of product(s) and manufacturer for this?

AUDAX is a 50-year old, sloop type, racing yacht that I will begin restoring next summer, located in Essex, MD. Her ribs are currently made of steam-bent 1-1/8" square oak with 7/8" white cedar as planking.

http://www.geocities.com/audax_sailboat/images/ship.jpg
Audax with Gorch Foch in the background Cheasapeake Bay OpSail 1976

Detailed info:
http://www.geocities.com/audax_sailboat/constructon.html

I am telling all of this to better clarify and first questions regarding time of year and environment where the work will be done.

Here is a webpage with info I am looking into for the material for this job:
http://cinetra.computinginsights.com:8080/Jeffco/systems/viewCustomers_html?key=13 14with3138 (http://cinetra.computinginsights.com:8080/Jeffco/systems/viewCustomers_html?key=1314with3138)

Thank you, in advance, for reading and replying.

[ 12-20-2002, 11:12 AM: Message edited by: Ralph M Bohm ]

[Ian McColgin]

I couldn't get the sites to come up so I don't have a good picture in mind of the boat but anyway:

Much depends on the radius of the bends but:

Oak is pretty easy to bend if you steam it;

Even thin strips may well need steaming to take a bend;

Therefore even if you want to laminate, you may have to steam and let the pieces take a set on a jig before bending.

Depending on access and how much of a mess you have in the bedlog and keel and how well the hull can hold her shape while you fool around, it may be just as easy to steam a frame, bend it in place hot and fasten it down.

That works sometimes but in places you'll have to cold-calculate and make the bevel on the outer face before steaming.

Epoxy would be my glue of choise if laminating. Googe bros and others have good manuels - with oak give the facing surfaces a wipe with acetone a few minutes before gluing just to drive the oils away - seems to help - and let some thin epoxy like CPES into the endgrain top and bottom.

G'luck

[Noah]

I thought that I would chime in on technical aspects...

Use http://www.geocities.com/audax_sailboat/
as the correct URL, and you won't be able to post pictures that are on GeoCities. Yahoo doesn't allow hot linking of photos.

You have a great project there, and it is an interesting boat. I like the idea of the open cabin top too. Great for a boat that is used mostly as a day sailor/racer.

Noah

[Concordia..41]

Ralph - Nice, I mean REALLY NICE looking boat. All the best of success in doing right by her. It sounds like you're off to a good start.

Nothing constructive to offer except that by using the search feature for specific topics, i.e. "laminated oak strips" "steam bending" etc., you'll find a wealth of information and dozens of prior discussions on every topic you'll likely encounter. (And some I hope you'll never encounter, i.e. potato cannons, gronicles, etc.)

Welcome aboard!

[JimConlin]

Have a look at the current thread sistering help (http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=00616)
and have a look at Dan McNaughton's article "healing the Break" in WB #99

[paul oman]

A good index of epoxy web sites can be found at

www.epoxyproducts.com/map.html (http://www.epoxyproducts.com/map.html)

paul

[Jan McAleer]

Hi Ralph --- Glad to see you found the forum -- you'll get some good and interesting info.

[JimD]

Ralph, there is much evidence to suggest that white oak and epoxy do not do well together due to the acid content of the oak. The issue of bonding white oak with epoxy comes up from time to time in this forum and other wooden boat venues and the general consensus so far as I have seen seems to be that you are taking a chance. One very well respected designer suggested douglas fir to me as an alternative if gluing with epoxy. I am not the most experienced builder around but I have used epoxy on my three small boats and will use it extensively on the fourth I have recently started, and I avoid oak.
jimd

[Ralph M Bohm]

A word of thanks for all of the replies and suggestions so far.

I will most certainly take in consideration, the possible problems with laminating oak, and will look further into the benefits of using Douglas Fir instead.

The beginning work is still set for May 2003 when I am out of classes, and will head down to Essex, MD where Audax is patiently waiting for me.

(BTW, hre is the correct URL:)
http://www.geocities.com/audax_sailboat/construction.html

Ralph