Fiberglassing a Stimson Ocean Pointer?

[D]

I have ordered (and received) plans for the Stimson Ocean Pointer (called and left message with address, phone # and credit card and got the plans fairly readily). Beautiful boat, can't wait to gete started. The question I pose is whether or not to use epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth on the outside of the hull (and of course coating the interior surfaces with a generous coating of epoxy resin as well) or to simply protect the hull with primer and paint. I built a 15' plywood stich and glue Diablo with epoxy so I am familiar with the rationale for using epoxy. The boat will be trailered and not used much October through March. I live in a very humid environment but the winter months do bring days of 40% humidity occasionally. All input greatly appreciated.

[JimD]

D, mostly depends on the construction method of the boat, ie is it stitch and glue plywood, ply panel on frames, strip plank, traditional carvel or lapstrake on frames, etc? Tell us more about how she's made, please.
jimd

[D]

Thanks Jim, the construction is strip planks on plywood semi-bulkheads. Construction per Stimson Marine is with beveled strips 3/4 x 1 3/8. I plan on obtaining 3/4 x 1 5/8 stock and putting a bead and cove on for a little more peace of mind. I'd like to make the cockpit self-bailing so I planned on a generous coat of epoxy and perhaps 6 oz fiberglass cloth or mat (haven't decided that one yet) in the bilge with as much 2# density foam as it will take. Is this enough information? Thanks again for your interest and advice!

[JimD]

D, sounds like what I'm about to start on a Glen-L Amigo. Edge glued bead and cove strip plank. Also ideal for fiberglassing. I will most likely put two layers of cloth on the outside. I asked another well known designer about this, he advised just build the boat to the lofting dimensions, and add the fiberglass overtop, nominally increasing the volume/displacement of the boat. The increase in dimensions will create added boyancy to compensate for the extra weight of the cloth (which really isn't much extra weight)
jimd

[D]

How thick and wide are your strips and what kind of cloth are you going to use? I haven't seen the design you are going to take on but if it is anything like the West Pointer I'm sure it looks great.

[JimD]

D, looks like the strips for the Amigo will be just about the same as yours. The Amigo is a stout little pocket cruiser, 22 feet plus bowsprit, gaff rigged. How about the Stimson?

There's another thread only a few days old, I believe it's called 'Making your own strips' or something close to that. Lotsa very recent input there on strip planking. Check it out
jimd

[D]

I read that it is a good thread. The Ocean Pointer is 20' round bilge with center console and a very nice sheer.

[Randy Leo]

D,
Can you tell me if that Ocean Pointer is flat-bottomed at the transom?

Regards,
Randy Leo

[D]

It is relatively flat but the construction method should lend itself to adding some V further aft than the plan shows. The length of the boat should help with the ride through a chop as well. There really isn't a boat that can be pushed with a lower horsepower motor that has a deep V. I weighed the benefits and cons of each and opted for the lighter, flatter bottomed, lower horsepowered boat due to the shallow nature of the bay where I live and the desire not to spend $50/day in gas. Let me know if you decide to build this one. I am in the fact-finding stages at present and hope to begin construction in the spring of 03.

[Randy Leo]

D,
Thanks for the insight in the OP. Your intended use sounds pretty similar to what I'm looking for...a boat that won't beat me sensless in a chop.

I'm probably overreacting to the moderate amount flat bottom of the OP. It's just that I've had some truly ugly experiences with a jon boat trying it's best to pound the loops out of my lower colon once when I was returning home after the wind kicked up.

The Handy Billy has a slight amount of deadrise at the transom which is more like what I'm looking for in the Ocean Pointer.

I think I'll give Stimson another try for those study plans.

Thanks for the response,
R

[John Gearing]

What does Stimson say about your idea to fiberglass the hull exterior? Seems as though they might be good ones to ask. From your initial posting I take it that you are concerned that the plank seams will open up when the boat is sitting on a trailer in a low-humidity environment. In the case of glued strips, this would most likely mean glue-line or failure of the wood itself adjacent to the glue line as a result of plank shrinkage across the width of the plank. Such shrinkage is due to the wood drying out, which means the wood was wet at the time the boat was hauled. The question then is how to stabilize the wood, and epoxy encapsulation is probably the way to go. It's the epoxy that keeps the water out. I think that the fiberglass would serve to reduce the chance of scraping/dinging the hull, but it's the epoxy that is keeping the wood dry.

Perhaps forumites with more experience dealing with this particular construction method can weigh in and share their experiences. I'd be interested to know whether paint alone is a sufficient barrier given the fact that the boat will live on a trailer (and thus not be as likely to absorb water as one that is stored wet).