Classic Mainship Projects Winter-Spring 2026

[boomerang]

Working on the boat in the winter wasn't an option for us. It takes all of the effort I can muster to even go outside and tackle a small project ,much less one of your caliber. We forfeited a couple of boating seasons to be able to have the luxury on not lugging heaters around to insure materials cured adequately and just not having to be miserable due to cold weather in general. In the summer; we sometimes had to set up fans for a breeze on still days and tarps for shade on hot ones (there's no place hotter in the summer or colder in the winter than a boatyard) and we had to fight with covering and uncovering our work due to the occasional summer afternoon rain showers but ,for us, way more doable than working in the cold.
Still, I do admire (envy) you and your upgrade projects. I always said our 34 was like a piece of clay and molding it into something that suited us wasn't a big deal and didn't overwhelm us or break the bank. Sometimes bigger is better, but bigger comes at a price. Replacing decks, repainting, pulling an engine etc on a 34' boat were projects that I'd roll up my sleeves and jump into with no problem. A bigger boat has more $#!t on it so it requires more $#!t to be moved or to have to work around to do a project. Yes sir, coming from a fellow do-it-yourselfer , I do indeed envy you and you boat.
Using a cliche'd metaphor, the grass might be greener elsewhere, but green isn't the only nice color!

 

[Frosty]

Impressive progress!

BTW, I have re-cored two decks from below (sailboats), and I got very tired of working overhead! Reason was in both cases the decks were in great shape, and the interior was easily removable (no liner, etc.). It was a forest of prop sticks at some points. Working with gravity looks very appealing, though I see you have a narrow workspace.

A note: You mentioned using G-10 from McMaster, but this looks like their "standard" GRP board (made with polyester resin). At least if it's a medium dark green as it looks to me in your photo. I recognize it because I often use it myself when G10 is not needed. At least the G-10 I have seen from them is more of a lighter, snot yellow/slightly green color.

I get excellent bonding with the "standard" GRP, since I'm using epoxy, but the board itself is just not as strong as G-10, which is made with epoxy and I think might have higher quality fiberglass fabric layers (I'm not positive but I think the "standard" might just have fiberglass reinforcement, but not fabric layers). Just thought I would mention it in case you do feel you need or want G-10 for sure and might not have it.

From. your post above:

 

[Gdavid]

 

[Gdavid]

This is definitely the coldest day I've ever done fiberglass work. It's 20° out today but quite a bit warmer inside the shrink wrapped boat. I recycled the top skin and fiberglassed it back in place on the starboard side. Hoping to get enough heat in it with the heat gun to get this to kick off.

 

[Comodave]

What resin are you using? I have used West epoxy with the fast hardner at 20 degrees. They say it is good to 40 degrees but I have done several projects in the low 20s without any issues.

 

[Gdavid]

What resin are you using? I have used West epoxy with the fast hardner at 20 degrees. They say it is good to 40 degrees but I have done several projects in the low 20s without any issues.

I am using vinylester resin.

 

[boomerang]

Whew! I don't know what's worse, the 20 degree work environment or the resin fumes inside of the tented boat!

 

[Comodave]

I am using vinylester resin.

I haven’t use vinylester resin so I don’t know how it works in cold temperatures. When I was working on our last boat inside unheated storage I would cover the whole boat with a 30x60’ tarp. Then hen I was there I used a large propane heater and it would heat the boat up under the tarp to where I would eventually get to just a T shirt and still sweat. When I ran the heater the tarp would balloon up like a parachute and then when I turned off the heat it would gradually lay back down.

 

[Comodave]

Whew! I don't know what's worse, the 20 degree work environment or the resin fumes inside of the tented boat!

Ousing epoxy resin I never really noticed the smell. But poly resin did stink some.

 

[Gdavid]

Whew! I don't know what's worse, the 20 degree work environment or the resin fumes inside of the tented boat!

In this cold weather, it kicks off so slowly that you really don't smell it. When you return the next day after it has set, you can really smell it strongly.

It is kind of like baking where you have all the time I. The world to work with it, then you hit it with the heat gun to get the ball rolling, then leave. So far I have come back to fully cured results.

The winter after hurricane Isabel, I worked in a yard doing a lot of fiberglass and gelcoat, we worked all winter long and were still behind in the spring. I learned a lot that winter.

 

[Gdavid]

Or maybe I have just killed off all my brain cells already

 

[Frosty]

That's one side benefit of epoxy vs. the "esters" -- no pungent smell.

 

[Gdavid]

That's one side benefit of epoxy vs. the "esters" -- no pungent smell.

It's also a stronger bond but more expensive, longer cure time and you can't gel coat over it (at least easily and reliably).

 

[Frosty]

Yes, there are many factors. Hence my saying the relative lack of odor is a "side benefit" of epoxy and not the main reason to choose it.

That said, I basically always use epoxy. I hate the smell of the esters (too much Vinylester use in my younger days), and since I'm DIY now I don't have to worry about billable hours.

I try not to use gelcoat unless I have to (prefer paint); but by following the example of WEST system I have not had any problem gelcoating over epoxy (except those caused by my own lack of gelcoat coloring skills

But Vinylester is a fine product, and can serve very well too. I'd say both have their plusses and minuses so it just depends on the person doing the work and the situation.

 

[Comodave]

I use epoxy because it is stronger. Side benefit is lack of smell.

 

[Gdavid]

Cold weather is slowing me down and I am adding scope to the project. My foredeck/cabin trunk is in pretty bad shape. I picked up a used Bomar in much better shape for $35. I had been storing my dingy upside down on the trunk cabin to keep the rain off of it, but this should solve that issue.

 

[Gdavid]

I removed the fiberglass on the port side. I ran into solid coring much earlier on this side. Unfortunately I had already cut through the deck about 8' past that point. The rotten wood is completely frozen so I'll start removing in a couple days when the weather should be a little warmer.

 

[Comodave]

It seems like the projects always grow in scope. Keep up the good work.