Practical Boat Owner – May 2018

64 Practical Boat Owner t http://www.pbo.co.uk

PRACTICAL

More complex shapes: making a double-ended canoe

REINFORCEMENTS

Wax (x3)

600g/m biaxial cloth

600g/m biaxial cloth

400g/m reinforcements

4x across

1x bow

1x stern

2x gunwales

Peel ply

Re-mesh

(epoxy transport mesh

with release sheet combined)

2

2

2

1 2 3 4 5 6

Canoe infusion

Layers under the bag

(in order of application)

Each layer is cut to shape,

but comes off the roll rectangular

65

4

4

4

4

4

2

1

3

1

Confi dent that we had learnt the
basics, it was time to transfer our
new-found epoxy vacuum infusion
knowledge into making a double-ended
canoe, a Gougeon 12.3. The process
followed much the same route as making
our demonstration clipboard, except this
time there would be no gelcoat stage, and

no hand-brushed wetting out. Instead, the

infusion epoxy would be piped in and

form both the inner and outer fi nish. On

production models, a manufacturer would

probably choose to brush in an exterior

gelcoat fi rst for aesthetic reasons. Ours

would be simply be rubbed down and

spray-painted when fi nished.

2

The canoe mould is prepared with
three coats of release wax, each one
polished hard to partly melt and spread
each layer thinly.

3

The fi rst of a total of two layers of

600g/m^2 biaxial cloth is rolled out

over the hull, ensuring there is overlap at

the edges for trimming.

4

The glassfi bre cloth is lifted up and
draped into the hull mould. Each
end is then folded in and cut
symmetrically to form the stem and stern.

5

The edges are carefully trimmed to

about 15mm from the outside of the

mould. This is to allow the vacuum bag

sealant tape to attach to the fl ange.

1

Extra lengths of 100mm 450g/m^2

reinforcing cloth are placed in the

bow and stern, and at regular intervals

across the hull, and taped into place.

2

Reinforcements across the hull are

cut and slightly overlapped in the

middle to avoid distortion – they will move

slightly under vacuum.

3

Another layer of 100mm reinforcing

tape is added along the length of

each gunwale, creating a complete rib

cage of extra strength.

(Colours for guidance only)