PocketShip.net

HI All. I've got my spars built up and sanded. Ready for epoxy and varnish. Any tips/tricks for applying epoxy and varnish to these long pieces? I would like to do all 4 sides at once.

I recall reading a previous builder inserted screws in each end and made a type of rotisserie that held the spa in the air but allowed it to rotate on its axis. This provided access to all faces of the spa.
I can’t remember if I read it in a forum post or a blog
Cheers mate Terry

I just laid the spars over a pair of sawhorses that were topped with a strip of molding with a sharp edge facing up and covered with packing tape.
This of course left a mark on each coat of varnish, but by the time the spars were fully varnished and installed on the boat, you would have a hard time spotting any
of the marks.

Doug

We tried and did not like the rotisserie approach. Mainly because the spar is unstable and likes to move/roll while applying epoxy or varnish. Especially when tipping with the foam brush.

Our solution was to have a screw at one end (attached with a small line to s.th. further up) and the other end on a wedge that made minimal contact with the spar (we used a wood piece covered with transparent tape). This worked very well. After each coat, the first of the four sides will rest 'wet' on the wedge. Between coats, the trace of the edge disappears when sanding. As the only downside, the final coat of varnish will have a small trace...
.., but to be honest I don't see that any more.

Dietrich

Edit: This photo shows our setup for varnishing: One end with screw in the middle (back) hanging from the ceiling, the other end (front) resting on an edge covered with transparent tape.

I used the rotisserie method ( https://sisterspocketship.com/2022/10/spar-rotisserie/ ) and it worked fine for me. However, if I were doing it again, I believe I would choose the much simpler method of resting both ends on sharp edges and using a screw in one end to rotate.