24 PROFESSIONAL BOATBUILDEROn a table set up at the after end
of the 35 hull being infused, lamina-
tor Brent Brown had set up jugs of
resin and accelerator from which he
had weighed, mixed, and poured
samples into cardboard cups, each
marked by a number. Written on the
table below each one were the tem-
peratures and gel times.
Brown: “With infusion we need to
gure out how much working time we
need with the resin. You don’t want to
stretch it out too long. So I’ll do a test
and track the temperature. is one
was 1.25% MEKP [methyl ethyl ketone
peroxide is a catalyst], which took 1
hour 15 minutes to gel at 81°F [27°C].
at was a little too long, so we went
with 1.5% MEKP, and that was 49
minutes. e stringer was infused in
35 minutes. e hull, usually 35–40
minutes. I mess with the tester and
pick the proper gel time at 1.75%.
Once I get the one I want, I do another
test to make sure I get the same results.
You want it to start gelling 15–20 min-
utes a er you’re done getting it in
there. You don’t want to be sitting here
trying to hold vacuum.... at’s the
hardest thing when you infuse.”
Moving away from the hull in mold
to other 35s in later stages of comple-
tion, Blackwell pointed out a number
of interesting details, indicating where
the many smaller parts are glued in
place, like the cockpit liner, galley
module, hanging locker, and head-
liner. Every joint is glassed on the
inside and covered with Duraglas
(fiberglass-filled filler from U.S.
Chemical and Plastics) on the outside.
Cradles support the imsy parts, such
as the headliner, until installation.
In a seldom-seen detail, every
through-hull has a fairing in front of it,Brent Brown mixes samples of
resin and accelerator in small cups to
test gel times. The appropriate
amount of accelerator is retested to
ensure the resin’s working time. On
this day, he chose 1.5% MEKP for a
49-minute gel time.When you’ve put in the time it takes to prep a hull just right,
Epifanes will reward your efforts like no other paint. On fiberglass,
wood, or metal, whether you spray, roll-and-tip, or just roll—you can
get beautiful results with rolling alone—the durable, mirror-like
finish you’re able to achieve will turn
heads everywhere. Check out the
painting and varnishing tips on our
website, and look for Epifanes at
your local marine products dealer.
AALSMEER, HOLLAND^ ■^ THOMASTON, MAINE^ ■^ ABERDEEN, HONG KONG
1-800-269-0 961 ■^ http://www.epifanes.comWatching paint dry has
never been more exciting.
FOLLOW USBUILDER PROFILE: BertramBertram171-ADFinal.indd 24 1/2/18 2:21 PM