graphite tape on gunnales

Sandy,

For the balsa gunnales on the balsa boat, you call for one strip of graphite tape, or fibers. What is the purpose of the graphite tape, and can fiberglass tape be used instead. Also, is 8 layers of glass enough on the chines? It seemed that you didnt mention the 8 layers when we first printed out the plans, or did we just miss it?

Tom & Willie

In reply to "graphite tape on gunnales", posted by Tom on Feb 20, 2001:
>Sandy,
>
>For the balsa gunnales on the balsa boat, you call for one strip of graphite tape, or fibers. What is the purpose of the graphite tape, and can fiberglass tape be used instead. Also, is 8 layers of glass enough on the chines? It seemed that you didnt mention the 8 layers when we first printed out the plans, or did we just miss it?


I answered this once, but it didn't appear.
Damn computer must have indigestion.
I bought a big roll of graphite fibers once, just a few
months before I stopped building boats commercially.
So it was only last year when I finally used up all of it
(the graphite fibers). I don't plan to replace it.
So no, graphite fibers on the gunwales of a balsa boat
are not required.

8 layers of fa
ic on a balsa boat should be just fine.
6 layers is workable minimum on plywood boats.
Send me photos when you're done!

I'll trade you some hand-tied grasshoppers....if you
like fly fishing. Or maybe a hand made diver if
you're a plug puller.

>
>Tom & Willie