Got the bug to build an HWS, say 6’ long 22" wide, 2" EPS rails, door skin “perimeter stringers”, 1/8" mahogany center stringer. Exterior glassing 4 or 6 ounce E bottom, 2x6 oz E deck, epoxy lam with PE hot coat and finish. Bottom skin only sealed on the inside. Deck skin open to discussion.
I made a test box section of 1/8 and thinner mahogany ply, 15" x 11" x 2.75". There is a 1/8 thick “stringer” along the long edge and four 1/8 ribs 5 inches apart, with the thinner ply as deck and bottom. None of the wood is drilled out. It appears quite stiff but I haven’t jumped on it yet since it was only glued up yesterday and is not glassed.
Sways general opinion seems to be that skins need glass on the inside. Trouble is, Fiberglass Hawaii no longer sells 1.8 oz kevlar (which I would have used). They have 5 oz kevlar and 4.8 oz carbon and cost $25 and $32 per square yard respectively. Though I don’t expect to use much, both of these are too heavy for their material.
I want to use 1.8 oz kevlar or similar on the bottom of the deck skin, rather than E glass, thinking the kevlar or carbon will be very stiff, thus providing the deck skin I need.
Questions:
What should the internal rib spacing be for me at 240 pounds? Hmmmm I could use two longitudinal stringers spaced 6" apart rather than a single center stringer. Based on the test box I don’t think longitudinal stiffness is an issue the exterior glassing will address that. Hmmm the stringers could be close at the nose, wider apart toward the tail.
Will the deck skin using 1/8" mahogany ply be adequate with a layer of 1.8 oz kevlar inside and 2 layers 6 oz E outside, epoxy glassed?
Who has some light kevlar or carbon cloth, preferably near Honolulu?