Glassing in the siderunners on my first bonzer tomorrow; wrestling around with how to get a good, precise measurement (22 deg) on the cant. Can’t find a good reference “plane” to work off as I put some V in along with the bonzerish concaves. I suppose I could “TLAR” it but that doesn’t make the engineer in me happy. How do you pros out there get a precise measurement with a relativly complex bottom?l
this (former) engineer uses a cheesy plastic protractor…but I use slow cure epoxy to set my fin system…take my time and get it right…regular polyester cures too quick for hobbyists.
the cant angle measure is relative to an imaginery horizontal line from rail to rail…if your vee sticks up above that youve made your bonzer incorrectly…maybe. You can estimate contour angles and fudge the cant measure accordingly…good luck.
meecrafty, Yeah, I did intentionally put a mild V in the board along with the concaves, we’ll see how it goes. 1/16th per side. Concaves are pretty mild compared to alot of the bonzers I’ve seen as well running into a shallow single. Lots of firsts on this board (1st Bonzer, 1st self done glass job). Also planning to initially stick the fins on with a hotglue gun before glassing them in. Read a few threads on the technique and seems to be a pretty safe way to go.
Cocque, your picture says a thousand words. My little plastic
articulated protractor only has about a 3" base; I’ll probably make a
jig like yours that can span the concaves.
Take a flat rectangular piece of material 2" X 12". Put, 1/4" thick little legs at each corner. Span your bottom contour 50/50 across between your fins. Use this as your theoretical horozontal plane. Use your protractor our template to set your fin cant from there.
Hello Jmevansjr, I didn’t have the time to post a long reply, so i figured that this photo will tell you a lot. The photo is not mine, i take it from another forum, some time ago, and i think it was taken in Moonlight Glassing.
Often what i do is to cut a piece of cardboard or masonite, or what ever you use for your templates, with a flat long side and a short side with the angle that i want for the fins, as you see in the photo. And it works pretty good.
Hope this helps.
Good waves!
tape em up then zap a gap diffuses under easily
never worry about poly quick set
but this method not apllicable with a box
“Zap a Gap” CA glue? Brilliant; never thought of using that. I’ve got a couple bottles in the workshop.
I’m not a pro but I just glassed the fins onto a fish this week. I made a wooden jig out of 3/4" pine just like the picture. Of course I am working with a flatter bottom not a Bonzer. I used a few dabs of hot glue and taped every thing together. After the hot glue set I used my finger to push UV Lam resin under the fins to fill the gap left by the hot glue. After it all set up in the sun I peeled off the tape and eye balled the whole thing.
Looked good so I glassed the fins on using 6 oz and fin rope.
You can do it. Don’t let the engineer over rule the artist inside…
Ray
… I just saw this thread …two days after moulding fin box bases for my fcs tabbed runners, and dropping my "bonzer runners " in there [at god knows what angle!]
dang diddly dang, neighbourino !!
[oh well … NEXT time !!! I ain’t nowhere near finished with making my ‘runners quiver’ yet …NO way !!]
ben
…thanks for the helpful photos , Coque and Rob !
p.s. - jm evans , please be sure to post a shot or three of the finished board and runners, eh ?! I , for one, would be VERY keen to see 'em …cheers mate !
Hey Chip, You asked so here’s a few pics of the fins on the finished board. 6’10"x 20&3/4"x 2&7/8".
Started to shape it for my brother who wanted a CI MSFg copy. He changed his mind after I cut the outline (said he needs another board like he needs a hole in the head) So I get a free blank out of the deal. I decided to try my hand at a “bonzer 5” and my first glass job since I had nothing to loose. Kept the concaves pretty mild. Glassing was a true learning experience. I’ll never bitch again at laying down $300 for a top shelf glass job. You guys that do it for a living aren’t getting paid enough!
Rode the board yesterday at a clean lined up barreling beachbreak near where I work on Camp Pendleton. Shoulder high and firing, sort of wave where the only thing you do is turn left, pull in and go fast. Thing was great in the barrel, much “faster” and more positive than any of my thrusters without needing to be pumped. I’ve never ridden a bonzer before so I don’t have anything to compare it to but I’m guessing I got it about 90% right based on how well it went. Can’t imagine what one turned out by one of the Campbells would do!
Mark (used to be Moose but i can’t log-on or recover my password)
thanks Mark !
wow …that’s a challenge for a first glassing job …did you sink the fins into the foam before glassing ?
thanks for the photos …
in a few moments I’ll resurrect the bonzer project thread , as I got my photos back today , and two people asked me the same thing …so I’ll let the pics do the talking !
ben
Nope, Did not route in the side runners. Followed Ambrose’s advise and tacked them on with CA glue before glassing them on. Yes it was a challenge but I learned a ton of good stuff. The thing reminds me of the primered '66 Chevelle I had in highschool. Not the prettiest car on the road but that 454 had enough grunt to push it through the 1/4 @ 11.02!
Great job !
Sanding around those fins must have been fun…