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Post by freezerfiller on Aug 24, 2014 19:24:42 GMT -6
After being unimpressed with fabric options, I started my hardtop t-top project this weekend. I got 2 layers laid. The bottom on the mold is a black epoxy that I put together myself in 12 oz biax cloth, the 2nd is a low tint white FF formula. The top will be a high tint formula that I'm still working on. I think it's going to have some really good design features you will like. I can't wait to get it done, but I'm setting a realistic goal of Jan 31. This is not going to be a "how to" thread, as I am a novice with fiberglass, but more of a "how I did" thread. I'll post pics when it gets more interesting. Right now, it's a rough 6x8 sheet.
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Post by Simple Man on Aug 25, 2014 10:50:55 GMT -6
Nice project. Good luck.
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yolo
Ensign
Posts: 626
Location: Back to Manasquan Inlet, NJ
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Post by yolo on Aug 25, 2014 14:01:18 GMT -6
Looking forward to pictures!
I am going to do this in the off season, i was thinking of taking a big sheet of starboard (most likely dolphin grey) and make one. baiscally the canvas just out of starboard.
Also looking forward to learning a bit more about what can be done from you!
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Post by freezerfiller on Aug 26, 2014 6:12:35 GMT -6
Thanks, hopefully it will turn out nice. Obviously it's pretty rough right now. I've spent a lot of time on getting the formulas to work. Epoxy chemistry is pretty neat, but it's a real pain. If you adjust one component in the part A formula, it can affect an number of properties that require you to also adjust the part B to keep it all where it's still a 2:1 mix ratio. As far as pictures, because you have to mix, layout, mix, layout, there's not much time, I did take one after it cured and I hung it on the wall of the garage so I could get my vehicle back in there. It was by necessity that I put it on the wall, but I think it will make fairing much easier on my back being up there. I started with a cheap 6x8' sheet of linoleum from Home Depot. The epoxy wont stick to it when it cures, but it's much thicker and less likely to wrinkle than poly, and I don't have to screw around with waxing something a half dozen times to get it to release. I then rolled on a coat of black epoxy, followed by a layer of 12oz glass, then wet it out with more black epoxy, then laid a layer of 3 mil polyethylene over it which allowed me to minimize fold wrinkles in the glass, and let it cure. Hindsight tells me I should have bought the fabric on a roll, and I wouldn't have had to do that. After it cured, I peeled off the poly, and repeated the steps with the white epoxy. I had to stop there, as I ran out of fabric. I will fair out some of the high spots and fix some blisters that formed during curing this week, then hopefully get a third layer done next week.
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Post by freezerfiller on Sept 4, 2014 20:24:10 GMT -6
Attachment DeletedI got the third and last layer of glass laid last night. Looks good! still just a flat sheet at this point however. I'm getting better at this, but I'll still have to fair it out some. I also ordered some 1-1/4"OD 1" ID fiberglass pipe from max-gain systems in Atlanta that showed up today. This will serve as my edging.
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Post by freezerfiller on Sept 4, 2014 20:29:26 GMT -6
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Post by freezerfiller on Sept 22, 2014 14:53:25 GMT -6
A little more fairing and cut the pipe in half. Also cut some slots in for the curvature in the front... Very itchy... time for a shower! Attachments:
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Post by freezerfiller on Sept 28, 2014 16:52:29 GMT -6
A little progress this weekend,, I picked up some 3/4" PVC conduit 90's, wrapped them in glass, let it cure, and then cut them in half. They were a perfect fit for the radius' on my T-top! Nice to have one bounce your way every now and again... Attachments:
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Post by freezerfiller on Dec 20, 2014 20:33:11 GMT -6
My neighbors leaf bomb finally went off, so it's time to get this project cranked up. The frame and sheet have been curing in separate locations, so it's time to put them together. First to remove the old sunbrella, misting system, anchor light, and vhf/fm antennae... I have hit the point of no return now...
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Post by freezerfiller on Dec 20, 2014 20:52:55 GMT -6
You can see it had given its all... Then I sanded it all down, and wrapped the entire frame in polyethylene to keep any epoxy from sticking. Here's a sneak peek of one of the features I hope to incorporate. I call it project megashade!!
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Post by freezerfiller on Dec 20, 2014 20:57:42 GMT -6
I filed in some grooves so that zip ties would be flush and not get in the way... Now time to get the sheet on board... And finally put some weight on top so I can start glassing the top and frame together...
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Post by freezerfiller on Dec 22, 2014 7:48:54 GMT -6
2 layers of glass holding the top to the frame. Curing is slow going with temps below 50, so I added a curing tent and an electric heater so I could make some progress.
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Post by Simple Man on Dec 24, 2014 6:46:21 GMT -6
Nice! Glad to see your being productive.
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Post by freezerfiller on Dec 24, 2014 14:59:48 GMT -6
Thanks Simple Man. It's coming along rather well. Not much picture worthy though. Glass, sand, repeat... I took it off the boat and moved it to the garage to make some progress in this monsoon. Gonna take Christmas off, but still should easily beat my original target date by a month... of course the end of deer season could derail me a little!
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Post by Juan on Dec 24, 2014 15:46:39 GMT -6
Looks like it's coming along nicely. Tell me again why you're doing all that work glassing it instead of replacing the sunbrella...I know it's going to look great and be more durable than fabric, but sure seems like a LOT of work.
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Post by freezerfiller on Dec 25, 2014 0:13:36 GMT -6
It is a lot of work, but I'm hoping to get a few extra benefits that I wouldn't get with simply replacing the sunbrella... 1. should be the last top I have to deal with for the next 20 years. It seems to be trendy, and I tend to hold on to stuff that works for me, and I think it will look better. 2. I wanted more shade for bottom fishing. Mrs. Freezerfiller and little Mrs. Freezerfiller are pretty fair skinned and this design should keep everyone bow and stern in the shade when not casting. If it works out as planned, the hard top will slide forward over the bottom shell (phase 2) to give about 80% more coverage than the current T-top. It might be strong enough for Jr. Freezerfiller to jump off! 3. I'm pretty cheap. I've recently learned some epoxy chemistry and have access to enough raw materials to build my own boat... so I think I can finish this project for about $150. and I won't have to deal with drips through the seams/fabric anymore. 4.I really just like doing stuff that I can do myself and it will be the way I want it.
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Post by Juan on Dec 25, 2014 6:55:14 GMT -6
Now I understand...being lazy and also cheap, I thought changing the sunbrella would have been cheaper and a lot less work..You could have just said: Because Mrs Freezerfiller wants it. rofl
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Post by freezerfiller on Jan 15, 2015 7:26:58 GMT -6
Once I got the sides glassed to the top with 2 layers of fiberglass/epoxy, I let it cure, and drilled out several holes from the bottom side along the radiuses to give me a template, and then removed the top from the boat. I used a jigsaw to cut out the radiuses, then filled the gap between the curved sides and the top with fairing compound and sanded, and repeated.
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Post by freezerfiller on Jan 15, 2015 7:57:47 GMT -6
And I picked up a can of this graphite sliding paint and put two coats on the inside curves where the top will slide along the rails. I've never used this stuff before, but I didn't feel like it could hurt anything.. Attachments:
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Post by freezerfiller on Jan 15, 2015 8:05:57 GMT -6
Final test fit... Then back in the garage for a final topcoat of a very highly pigmented epoxy that should be as UV resistant as epoxy can get. I had originally planned to make a nonskid finish, but I've changed my mind. I think smooth would be much easier to keep clean, and pretty soon FF Jr will be too big to get up there anyway.
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