Boat Builder Central

Not familiar with that engine but every Mercury under 25hp is actually a Tohatsu. They make a lot of small outboards.

Usually 24 hours is more than enough in good temperatures, though if the part was under a lot of stress I'd give it longer. Creep under load while curing is possible.

One good thing about the slow cure is that you have more time to recoat with little prep and a full bond.

Here's a real-world solution for you. Stand back from the boat until you can no longer see those little flaws. Then ask yourself how often someone is going to be looking at it from that distance. If the answer is never, or rarely, then time for high build primer.

Dan, thanks, yes keeping the sole level is one of the next challenges. At least I know the stringers are level so I shouldn't be too far off. The sole will be built in sections between frames, and glassed with 200g cloth. Not sure about the benefit of glassing the frames, I have doubled (most of) t...

Did you fasten the stingers wood on wood or leave a gap for the epoxy to flow under the stingers. If you did wood on wood you have a hard spot that will wear instead of a wood to epoxy to wood joint which would be stronger and more flexible. I know this to be true, and have abided by it in my build...

I glassed my inside in boxes formed between stringers and two frames. I prefered it, mainly for the reason that I could do a box every day. I don't believe that there's a major loss of strength, just make sure to have good fillets and sufficient glass on the stringer hull transition.

You can mix by weight even when a ratio is specified by volume. Measure 100ml of hardener and weigh. Call this A. Then measure 400ml (for a 4:1) of resin and weigh. Call this B. Then divide A into B to get a ratio in weight. For my 4:1 generic resin I got 4.5:1. I always add one to get 5.5:1 which i...

An alternative is a vinyl boat wrap. Any colour you like, and any design you like. No worries about orange peel or anything.

Definitely worth your while to put a weave filling coat on within 24 hours. Or even 48 with a light scuff.