Building Hollow woodies

[bretrwarner]

Thanks Randy
I actually paddle a Kaholo that I built from plans earlier this year. I am building a prone San O from CLC right now. I definitely want a narrower board in the future, hopefully I will have the time/confidence after this next build to plan one out.
Bret

[paddlebuilder]

Nice on the proner!....I want to design one in my style soon.  There's definitely lot's of interest in SO many types of paddling....really a cool situation.  My brother built a "kaholo" style after paddling with Larry Foley who designed them for clc.  He wanted a quicker build than a stripper and I think he has a lot of fun on his.

[paddlebuilder]

Picking away at this hollow 14'.   I have the tail area started and the salvaged redwood pin lines along the deck line.

[paddlebuilder]

I finally got all the strips on this flatwater 14'er!  Lot's of wood to sand on a board this long.  Hoping to have it in the water in a month or so.

[TallDude]

I bet you're feeling the stoke now. Great looking board. Are you going to glass it?

[paddlebuilder]

Yeah, really got a stoke going on this one! :-)  I do glass these boards.....one 4oz top and bottom....the wood factor allows for a fairly light glassing schedule.  I have glassed these with 3 oz but have found 3 oz difficult to work with.

[paddlebuilder]

Yeah, really got a stoke going on this one! :-)  I do glass these boards.....one 4oz top and bottom....the wood factor allows for a fairly light glassing schedule.  I have glassed these with 3 oz but have found 3 oz difficult to work with.

[Bean]

I just reread this post, awesome process and results! 

In your first message you discuss using "four coats epoxy and three coats cat/poly"; what is cat/poly?  The reason I'm asking is that I'm looking for a decent solution to get a gloss coat on an epoxy board.

[paddlebuilder]

Howdy Bean, Cat/poly is a catalyzed polyurathane marine varnish made by Interlux.  Really the best product I have found for a hard, longlasting, polishable, UV resistant clear.  I roll and tip three very thin coats on FLAT epoxy substrate, wait a week for curing, then wet sant to 2000 and buff.  The epoxy schedule on the glass is: cheater/sealer coat of clear penetrating epoxy, lam coat, fill coat and gloss coat, then the cat/poly.  If you go with the Interlux product take the vapors and fumes seriously....It's really nasty stuff.  But as I said, the stuff LASTS! :-)

Randy

[Bean]

Thanks Randy, I'll have to give that a try.

[Jethrow]

I'll give my thumbs up to the Cat/poly (called perfection varnish here in Oz). I did a clear coat carbon mast for my catamaran and it lasted ten years in the scorching Australian sun before starting to peel.

[paddlebuilder]

I actually found out about the stuff when visiting family in NZ....my brother got ten years out some there, too....and as a matter of fact, I'm wet sanding some in my shop this afternoon! Ha! :-)

[paddlebuilder]

This is a finished bard now.  So fun to have hollow 14 on the water.   I entered a rec race this past weekend and did well on it.

[TallDude]

Awesome build. Paddle proud.

[stoneaxe]

What a beauty! I like that none of your boards have pads...what do you use?