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Every time I think I'm ready to slather on some fiberglass, I see one more spot (or twenty) that need a bit more fill & sand. So for those of you who have glassed over decks and cabin trunks and cockpit soles, how obsessive were you about perfection? I'm not talking about the topsides and bottom....those I will truly obsess on. At least for the wetted surface areas.

POLL: choose one

__ I was insanely careful to make sure everywhere I glassed was as smooth as a baby's bottom
__ I did a great job of fairing but it wasn't prefect...close, but not completely perfect
__ I did a good job of fairing but I didn't sweat some of the tiny imperfections, figured they'd fill in or disappear with cloth and paint layers
__ I got fed up and said. "F it, that's good enough for me, it's a race boat not furniture."
__ I just wanted to get the goddam thing built and I figured it was going to get trashed on the course, so I spent like 15 minutes fairing.
__ What is "fairing?"

thanks

You'll be doing more fairing after the glass, right? Mebbe just get the surface grossly fair (check with battens), and good enough to receive the glass. Then spend the real time afterward when you can use primers to really highlight the surface, instead of being blinded by the cammo appearance of the various wood tones, filler patches, etc.

POLL: choose one

__ I was insanely careful to make sure everywhere I glassed was as smooth as a baby's bottom
__ I did a great job of fairing but it wasn't prefect...close, but not completely perfect
__ I did a good job of fairing but I didn't sweat some of the tiny imperfections, figured they'd fill in or disappear with cloth and paint layers
_X_ I got fed up and said. "F it, that's good enough for me, it's a race boat not furniture."
__ I just wanted to get the goddam thing built and I figured it was going to get trashed on the course, so I spent like 15 minutes fairing.
__ What is "fairing?"

thanks[/quote]

POLL: choose one

__ I was insanely careful to make sure everywhere I glassed was as smooth as a baby's bottom
__ I did a great job of fairing but it wasn't prefect...close, but not completely perfect
_x_ I did a good job of fairing but I didn't sweat some of the tiny imperfections, figured they'd fill in or disappear with cloth and paint layers
__ I got fed up and said. "F it, that's good enough for me, it's a race boat not furniture."
__ I just wanted to get the goddam thing built and I figured it was going to get trashed on the course, so I spent like 15 minutes fairing.
__ What is "fairing?"

So far, I've only finished the keel. I may become discouraged and lower my standards for the hull sides and deck.

Great stuff, thanks fellers for your insight and guidance, as per usual.
I owe you all a beer.

(in all fairness, I think I like Shazza's response best of all! )

I think this is more of a list of fairing phases.

At the start.
_x_ I was insanely careful to make sure everywhere I glassed was as smooth as a baby's bottom

Then the enthusiasm for perfection left.
_x_ I did a great job of fairing but it wasn't prefect...close, but not completely perfect

More enthusiasm left
_x_ I did a good job of fairing but I didn't sweat some of the tiny imperfections, figured they'd fill in or disappear with cloth and paint layers

Finally towards the end
_x_ I got fed up and said. "F it, that's good enough for me, it's a race boat not furniture."

Now that I have had the pleasure of seeing the bottom again.
_x_ I just wanted to get the goddam thing built and I figured it was going to get trashed on the course, so I spent like 15 minutes fairing.

Hope I'm not to late to get in on one of those beers!

I'm always happy to help

I can supply a number of photos on request for those wanting photos of;

* Stone chips to the bow from transporting Shazza to and from the water.
* Dings & Scratches from poorly fitted out pontoons we have tied up at.
* Dings and scratches from race start idiots and over enthusiastic start line antics of ours and others.
* Dings and scratches to the keel/bulb from testing the water depth at new cruising venues

You really want to be a perfectionist with that paint ?

excellent points, indeed.

below, I am just posting this to check out the image posting thingie on this board

TEST IMAGE POST

Hi Tim,
İ am with Chad. Be certain that no matter what you will fair somemore after glassing. İ guess the basic idea is to go for a pretty much leveled surface before you glass. So all major bumps and hollows should be all fixed before you glass. A batten will guide through that. İn some places, İ had to add considerable amount of fairing.....
Then you glass the damn thing and although it will look pretty much perfect at first sight, the first pass of sanding paper will show you zillions of new smaller ups and downs. So its time for more fairing and sanding. Then primer, or paint spray, and more sandind and fairing. you will reach a point that the longboard will sand in a uniform manner all troughout its length. When this happens, you now your surface is smooth. Sand it then with finer sand paper to remove scratches and its time for primer.
Wish İ could be on that side of the world to help you out. İ am going through a rather boring winter with nothing to do on weekends.... Not good ! So İ ended up buying congas and bongos for my neighbours to enjoy !!!
Best to you !

I'll 3rd the rough fairing before glass montra. The hull changes when that glass and epoxy cures because the panels flex differently with the glass than without. For me the biggest drag is roughing up the low spots the long board reveals so the next layer of fairing compound will bond. Not sure I ever found a great solution to that.

I have nicks and scratches just like Shazza to show off as well. It only looks perfect until you flip it back over.

Kevin.