Fixing wooden battens to underside of grp deck

Poignard

Poignard

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I want to fix some battens [approx 3/4" x 1"] to the underside of a grp deck. I plan to use epoxy for strength but it takes a while to set. In the past I have held battens in place with props or gaffer tape until the epoxy sets but it's a fiddly business and difficult to position the batten accurately.

I am thinking of applying some kind of fast-grab adhesive at intervals along the batten with epoxy in between. The idea is that I can hold the batten in place for a few moments whilst the fast-grab sets then let go and the batten will stay in place whilst the epoxy sets.

Any suggestions for a suitable fast-grab adhesive? It needs to be gap filling, very quick setting [before my arm starts to ache!] and strong enough to hold the batten in place without sagging. Something like a gap-filling Evostik, if possible.
 
Take a look at what Screwfix have to offer. there seems to a good choice of suitable materials..

BTW i just used polyester resin and glass fibre (actually Isopon P40 carbody repair stuff) to glue pads in place. I warmed the GRP and the wooden pads with a hot air gun and held them in place while the resin set. Easy and satisfactory.
 
It sounds like you want some of the "fast grab" stuff used to put skirting boards on, "grabs like nails" is one name I can recall, there are several in B&Q/Screwfix etc.
 
Easiest - and quickest - way I've found ( if you have mains power) is to use a hot glue gun. Get everything ready, so mix your epoxy and apply it, but leave some strategically blank areas on the wood. When ready to fit, squeeze a couple of dollops of hot glue onto the spaces between the epoxy and immediately position the piece. You will have about 1 minute before the hot glue cools, and hardens.

It sticks solid, and holds the piece firmly while the epoxy goes off. Works a treat, but don't get the hot glue on your skin. It is VERY hot. the guns can be had for about a tenner at most DIY stores. By the way, the glue is a powerful adhesive in it's own right, and I've used it successfully when epoxy couldn't quite get a grip ( aluminium repair, for example.)

The hot glue technique is particularly useful for working overhead.
 
When I built my Hunter all the interior woodwork that needed attaching to the hull I fixed with car body filler (Isopon type stuff). Provided the interior of the GRP is clean it sticks to the hull and the wooden battens like, well like glue. It 'grabs' well and is gap filling - can be very large gaps, so no support is necessary provided the batten is straight. If I wanted the batten to take the curve of the cabin top then I wedged it in place with a long length of batten from the cabin sole.

All woodwork still in place 5 years later.


Courier
 
I first stuck on small blocks (approx 2.5cm x 5.0 cms x 1 cm thick ) to the underside of the deck along the proposed line of the battens using blobs of that GRP mix that comes in a tube. The blocks stayed in position without any need of support. Once the GRP had set, I screwed the battens to these blocks.

To avoid reducing my limited headroom any further, I had already cut recesses in the battens matching the positions of the blocks before screwing the battens on. My headlining panels were then screwed to the battens. If you wanted a slightly stronger fix, you could stick the battens to the blocks in addition to using the screws.
 
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