I am the new guy who is "thinking" of trying to build this boat. I have never built a boat before and have not worked with wood or fiberglass. I am, however, good at following directions and am just now finishing a thre-year long project of building an all aluminum airplane ( a Van's RV-12) from a kit. (Plane will be finished and flying this summer so I need to get thinking ahead on next project for next winter).
In the summer I volunteer crew for people who race their sailboats for fun. I think that given enough time and patience I could build a boat of my own. I have purchased the build manual for the Pocketship and have read it through. The only thing scaring me off is the fiberglassing! Although I have read the manual a few bits are still not clear to me:
1. I understand that the first coat of resin on the cloth is just to "wet it out" and that I must thereafter apply a second and third coat of resin. Is the desired result to get the cloth to turn "Clear"? Is that when I know that I will have enough resin?
2. Is there a MINIMUM time to wait before applying the second and third coats? Is there a MAXIMUM time to wait between coats? Does each coat have to fully cure or is the goal to get the second and third coats on BEFORE the entire layup cures so that the entire thing can cure together?
3. Am I supposed to sand the surface between each of the coats OR can I avoid all but a final sanding if I get the second and third coats on quickly enough?
Thanks,
Randy