Cover story: After three years of painstaking work and many interruptions, Ted Moores of Bear Mountain Boats completed the Bear Mountain 30 Hybrid Electric Launch Sparks. We take a close up look at this award winning boat while cruising Ontario’s historic Rideau Canal.

Also: In the first of a series of articles on wood/epoxy boat construction, Ted Moores offers a lesson on strip plank construction. These articles will incorporate all of the “Cheap Tricks” Ted has learned in thirty-five years of boat building as applied to the building of Sparks. Also in this issue, a first time strip plank boat builder demonstrates the value of the technique in building his own wooden treasure. A close look at the building of an i550 sail boat here at Gougeon Brothers and how it became the choice to compete in the Everglades Challenge. In what he says is his last article for Epoxyworks, Captain J. R. Watson built a variety of items for his new boat that he says are better built than bought. A Maine boat building company builds modern components for an ancient boat replica. Rob VanMullekom fixes a punctured motorcycle case with Six10® and Tom Pawlak shows how to extend the life of a snow shovel using G/flex®. Finally, we profile Maine boat building school, The Apprenticeshop.

Cover story: WEST SYSTEM®, Chesapeake Light Craft™ (CLC) and nine family groups joined forces at the 2010 WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut this June to build nine Sassafras 16 kit canoes. The families and their CLC and West System Tech Staff helpers labored hard to get their stitch and glue lapstrakes as far toward completion as they could in just three short days.

Also: Fire up the test machines. Bruce Niederer uses the PATTI test to dispel myths about adhesives and white oak. Impact testing reveals the ideal hull specs for a new electric launch. And fatigue testing provides sound evidence for a new style deadeye. Two different bicycle makers use wood to make bicycles for the same reason—it is an excellent engineering material. Also in this issue, readers used WEST SYSTEM Epoxy to restore the Tartan Ten, Flags and the yacht Bolero. Another reader used it to salvage an older Harken Flexible furler unit, while a New Jersey man uses it to save damaged guitars. Our Tips and Techniques guru, Tom Pawlak, shows how he repaired a plastic hatch with G/flex Epoxy. And, we profile custom boat builder Hugh Saint and the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, Rhode Island.

Cover story: J. R. Watson built a 28' Howard I. Chapelle-designed sharpie and over the years wrote several Epoxyworks articles detailing aspects of her construction, beginning Epoxyworks 15, Spring 2000, with "Building a wood/epoxy Sharpie." He launched the completed Lady B on August 20, 2009. On one of the first sails, I asked Jan Gougeon to come along to see what he thought of her. That sail brought back many memorable sailing moments that J.R. and Jan shared growing up with boats.

Also: John Thomas describes a simple fairing technique for complex shapes. A look at Russell Brown?s new, fuel-efficient PT Skiff. Tom Pawlak gives us a great tip for gelcoat blister repair and shows how to build a really practical wastebasket. Randy Zajac looks at the practicality of repairing damaged carbon fiber bicycle frames. Sailing canoe guru Hugh Horton talks about the process of designing a new stitch & glue sailing canoe. Tom Pawlak shows us how Horton makes small pad eyes with lots of holding power. Jeff Wright uses a CAD program to design a plywood/foam/epoxy cooler to fit his classic Formula. We look at the work of students from the Northwest School of Boat Building and what a New Mexico artist has created to commemorate a 400th anniversary.

Cover story: The Gougeon 12.3 canoe represents decades of experimentation by employees of Gougeon Brothers. Robert Monroe's cold-molded canoe came from a half-mold that eventually resulted in a mold which, over the last 20 years, was used to produce nearly three dozen offspring that reflect a wide range of tastes and technologies. Dozens have been built, yet no two are exactly alike. The evolution of the Gougeon 12.3 parallels our love of boating, passion for innovation and desire to build better boats—all of which contribute to the products we produce today.

Also: Tom Pawlak shows us how he added a deck to a Gougeon 12.3 canoe, turning it into a 12.3 kayak. J. R. Watson passes on some kayaking tips and famed boat designer John Marples tells us about the construction of a very unusual propulsion system. Bruce Niederer looks back on 40 years of boatbuilding at Gougeon Brothers. We'll look at taking epoxy coating out of the garage and into the living room, restoring a one-of-a-kind airplane, repairing a rudder during a sailboat race, building a unique fish tank, creating big sculptures and destroying things to learn how to make them last longer.

Cover story: 2009 is the 40th Anniversary of Gougeon Brothers, Inc. 1969 marked a point in the Gougeon brothers' careers when they applied all they had learned about wooden structures and epoxy technology to manufacture, for the first time, a product utilizing wood/epoxy composite construction. Meade Gougeon looks back at the development of the Gougeon brothers and how their quest for lighter, stronger structures led to new building techniques and line of products known as WEST SYSTEM.

Also: Reader contributors show us how to attach line guides to a carbon fiber fly rod, repair rotted posts to save a deck and easily create intricate inlays in wood. A local reader built an Arch Davis skiff that he tows behind his Harley and a reader in California builds and plays carbon fiber/epoxy electric violins. Jeff Wright shows how to test, prep and repair a plastic automobile part. Tom Pawlak shows how to repair a plastic camper panel. Julie VanMullekom examines the QUV machine and the data it generates. We have tips on repairing dented wood trim with G/5 and the best way to save your 801 Roller Frame for re-use. Tom Pawlak visits the Small Craft Builders' Rendezvous and we profile the Bates Technical College boatbuilding and repair program.

Cover story: Chris Jacobson rented some kayaks on a camping trip in 2005, and came home with the intention of buying a couple of plastic kayaks. But, while searching the internet he found some stitch and glue make’m yourself boats. After buying the books The New Kayak Shop and Kayaks You Can Build, his family decided this was something they could do. They traveled to Toronto and purchase plans for a Chesapeake Light Craft 16 and some marine-grade plywood. Ten months later they had two, non-plastic CLC kayaks and a well-documented story of how they were built with WEST SYSTEM epoxy.

Also: Tom Pawlak helps build a scaled down working model of a lighthouse and passes along some useful G/5 Adhesive tips. Meade Gougeon used G/5 and 105/205 to repair a broken spinnaker pole during the Chicago to Mac race. J. R. Watson takes a close look at reinforcing fibers and offers some useful application tips. WEST SYSTEM introduces Six10 Epoxy Adhesive, a pre-thickened two-part epoxy in a convenient caulking cartridge. We look at some of James Wharram’s enduring catamaran designs and vintage aircraft, a rocket ship and a steam-powered launch.

Cover story: Ted Brewer's design Quiet Times sparked Carl Puehl’s imagination when he saw it featured in The Boatbuilder magazine. He studied the design and said, "I can do that." Five years later he had done it. Puehl built the long range cruiser nearly single-handed in a pole barn behind his house in Saginaw, Michigan. Puehl stretched Brewer’s design to 37 feet and ended up with a comfortable, reliable and highly fuel-efficient yacht, perfect for exploring North America’s numerous lakes and inland waterways. Puehl took lots of photographs during the constructions of his project and gave us this well-documented article.

Also: Jennifer Lee and Pablo won a design competition for the Museum of Modern Art's Young Architects Program and used WEST SYSTEM epoxy in a project at the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in New York. J. R. Watson shows how to build carbon fiber/epoxy composite tubes and a set of planer boards. More tips and techniques for using G/flex epoxy including the repair of an ABS canoe. Tom Pawlak offers tips for building a trebuchet and repairing a lawn mower.

Cover story: Meade and Jan Gougeon build their first powerboats. Using the same Dick Newick designed 32' hulls, they each developed their own versions of an efficient, trailerable catamaran. With their shallow drafts they are designed for costal cruising in the rivers and bays of Michigan and Florida. The twins have been christened the Gougmarans and are designed for maximum fuel efficiency, a 2000 lb load capacity, and good seaworthiness in high winds and wave. Given their long cruising range and capacity for passengers, the boats feature an enclosed head and plenty of room for seating and storage. Meade also documents the boat's cruise to the Everglades.

Also: How to install a depth sounder and a removable hatch. Bruce Niederer discusses another accelerated test procedure for Moisture Exclusion Effectiveness, which uses our environmental huts. We take a quick look at two new WEST SYSTEM® products; The 320 Small Batch Scale and an updated 309 Gear Pump. John White of Fife, Scotland tells how he built a Formula 1 Ferrari for his grandson. WEST SYSTEM introduces G/flex Epoxy, and adds a degree of flexibility the product line. Related articles describe G/flex properties and how to use G/flex to repair holes and leaking seams in aluminum boats.

Cover story: Steve Gembrowski of Bay City, Michigan spent a year and a half building a Ken Basset designed mahogany runabout. The modified V-bottomed hull weighes just 420 pounds and is 14’10” long. Steve did an excellent job on the construction of this gem and did a great job of documenting the project. The RASCAL took 1st place at the 2005 Presque Isle Harbor Wooden Boat Show in the Contemorary Classic division.

Also: How Brian Knight built an all-weather barbeque grill stand. A high school rocket team’s successful effort to build a rocket and send it a mile high. Two projects, one marine, one architectural that deal with repairing rotted wood and a look at using borate salt to treat rotted wood. Mike Leneman developes a hybrid plywood/composite construction method for building hulls. Bruce Neiderer explains an accelerated test we use to compare the moisture resisitance of coatings. Engineering a scooter for stiffness, and tips on repairing a metal door and a cracked pot.

Cover story: While Epoxyworks was out of circulation, we missed reporting on an important epoxy event, the launching of the 154’ cold-molded ketch, Scheherazade. Scheherazade, one of the largest wood/epoxy vessels ever built in the United States is a Bruce King design built by Hodgdon Yachts and launched September 27, 2003.

Also: Two different projects that use the "lost foam" method to fabricate composite parts with cavities. Bruce Niederer examines the effects of high temperatures on cured epoxy. Two variations on building very stiff strongback supports for molds and jigs. Brian Knight’s elegant, but cheap, planter box. Jeff Wright compares the cost and weight of flat panels build with laminated and composite materials. Plus articles on repairing a fiberglass statue, building a stripper kayak, sheathing the hull of a 65’ fishing boat, and re-building an International 110.

Cover story: Boatbuilder Bruce Hutchinson of Gull Lake, Michigan launched Babyface Nelson after two year of construction. Babyface Nelson is a 30' replica of Baby Bootlegger, a Gold Cup racer designed by George Crouch and built by Nivens in 1924. Hutchinson describes his construction process using mahogany, cedar and WEST SYSTEM epoxy.

Also: Meade Gougeon weighs in on the factors contributing to stiffness loss in small boats and Test Engineer, Bill Bertelsen adds data to the discussion. More testing examines epoxy's compatibility with pigments, stains, chopped strand mat and exotic woods. And, we'll take an in depth look at repairing holes in fiberglass boats.

Cover story: The Swift Solo is a single-handed skiff built by Bram Dally. The cedar-strip core of the Swift is one successful step in the development of the perfect combination of skins and core. Dally discusses his quest to find the stiffest, most durable hull for the speedy skiffs. Cover photo, © Dennis Williams.

Also: Meade Gougeon weighs in on the factors contributing to stiffness loss in small boats and Test Engineer, Bill Bertelsen adds data to the discussion. More testing examines epoxy's compatibility with pigments, stains, chopped strand mat and exotic woods. And, we'll take an in depth look at repairing holes in fiberglass boats.

Cover story: Ken Newell, a materials engineer, and Steve Gallo, a mortgage banker, installed a teak plank deck on their 50-foot cutter Zatara. It was their first experience with a project like this, and they have some valuable information to pass along.

Also: Applying a non-skid deck on a Pearson Flyer, installing a bow thruster on a 26' sportfisherman, and replacing damaged bulkheads on an Evelyn 32. Building a 55' Lugger, avoiding surface contamination, testing adhesion to polyester blend laminates, repairing a historic statue and Tom's G/5 Adhesive tips.

Cover story: Scheherazade a 154' 7" Bruce King designed ketch under construction at Hodgdon Yachts, in East Boothbay, Maine is the largest sailboat under construction in the United States. A yacht this size will generate some huge loads on the structure and on the hardware. It also generated some large scale testing at Gougeon Brothers.

Also: Replacing damaged balsa core in a 1981 Pearson Flyer, the versatility of scrapers for working with epoxy, building an efficient icebox, and making repairs on chair spindles, exterior architectural trim and fiberglass tubs.

Cover story: Student sailors in a community sailing program learn to manuever on the Saginaw River. Their plywood prams were built by boatbuilding students in the organization using the stitch and glue method.

Also:The benefits of varnishing over epoxy, building a shelf, tips on building a wood/epoxy sharpie, wood/epoxy comopsite tank guidelines, product highlights and Paul Bulter's latest dory.

Cover story: Tenacious, the Jubilee Sailing Trust's new wood/epoxy three masted barque began sea trials in June 2000. We'll look back at the history of her construction, which began in June 1996.

Also: A look at the start of another large project, the 155' Scheherazade, methods to test surface preparation for paints and primers, reinforce sagging beams, reinforce sagging beams and repair early stage gelcoat blisters and a number of useful shop tips.

Cover story: Meade Gougeon maneuvers his decked sailing canoe Serendipity on the Saginaw River.

Also: Methods for bonding to plastic with epoxy, and Ted Moores' techniques for applying fiberglass and getting the clearest finish on a woodstrip hull.

Cover story: An oak and walnut staircase built by Dean Wolf of Manchester, California.

Also: Mahogany Masters II, resoring a gaff rigged sloop, student projects, building a Sharpie and the largest wood/epoxy ship ever built!

Cover story: ALPA Z, a 39' sport boat, designed and built by Van Dam Wood Craft of Boyne City, Michigan.

Also: Building a dingy, new window frames, composite fan shrouds, and fences and gates. Advantages and disadvantages of thinning epoxy and the launching of ANTONISA!

EPOXYWORKS
Number 13, Spring 1999