GRP thick board/panel; where from?

[penfold]

Sorry for the thread hijack, but I have a similar problem, in that I'm looking for some cheap (if possible) and stiff fibreglass sandwich-type panel to replace the drop sides on my trailer. They're currently 18mm ply, skinned on each side with GRP. They weigh a ton and the ply inside has rotted in quite a few places. There must be a better way!

See my post immediately above yours.

 

[Croak]

There are loads of makers; here's a couple that appeared on the first page when I googled. Smyth composites and Normanton laminating.

Thanks for that but all these company's seem to have awful websites, I just want to know what products they sell and how much they cost,( Robbins Timber can manage it, it can't be that hard) Something like an inch thick foam with GRP on both sides or Ply one side GRP on the other.

 

[chuzzlewit]

How to apply GRP overhead.
Cover a sheet of ply with thick foam (old mattress?). Cover with polythene. Lay up 3 or 4 layers of GRP on the polythene. Raise the lot so that the GRP is jammed up against the keel - really hard so that the keel sinks into the foam . Let it set and repeat a few times, remembering that curing GRP gets hot. Good luck.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Make a mould and then construct a GRP shoe which you can stick on with Sikaflex. You only need one male mould which replicates the bottom of the keel going about 75mm up the side, and then laminate GRP over it. The mould can be made of softwood, painted and coated with release agent. Finish the outside with epoxy and antifoul.

yes, it is a very good option, which I may end up doing; thanks

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

My advice would be to avoid putting any timber under water, no matter what treatment you apply to prevent it self destructing.

Have you considered a simple plate of Stainless steel with two 'U' shaped brackets that are through bolted on the keel.

The process of drilling and filling the holes is simple and quick.

Say you want to use 12 mm through bolts, simply drill a 25 mm hole, fill it with a mix of Micro-fibres and epoxy resin, let is cure then re drill the hole to take your 12 mm bolts.

After the "U" shaped brackets are fitted you can smooth out the whole area with Micro balloons or micro spheres (made of glass rather than resin) and anti foul as normal.

This method eliminates the need to fibreglass any areas.

This will be easy to replace if needed a some in the future if need be without hacking the keel.

I used this system on the mini keels of a Catamaran many years ago and they are still there and no problems at all.

Good luck and fair winds. V

Your suggestion is simple in that I would not have to use fibreglass resin, which can be difficult when upside down, and the result will be a more tidy job; thanks for the suggestion

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

How to apply GRP overhead.
Cover a sheet of ply with thick foam (old mattress?). Cover with polythene. Lay up 3 or 4 layers of GRP on the polythene. Raise the lot so that the GRP is jammed up against the keel - really hard so that the keel sinks into the foam . Let it set and repeat a few times, remembering that curing GRP gets hot. Good luck.

this is a great idea and which; I will use your method if I end up building up with layers of grp; thanks

 

[Avocet]

See my post immediately above yours.

Typical! Ta for that. Will have a chat to them. One seems to do stuff for commercial vehicle bodybuilders so that might be good.

 

[cimo]

Make a mould and then construct a GRP shoe which you can stick on with Sikaflex. You only need one male mould which replicates the bottom of the keel going about 75mm up the side, and then laminate GRP over it. The mould can be made of softwood, painted and coated with release agent. Finish the outside with epoxy and antifoul.

yes, it is a very good option, which I may end up doing; thanks

My keels have a 2" hardwood, roughly shaped & stuck on and the gaps filled in. Then fiberglass socks over everything. The sock extends about 2 inches up the original keel.

Needed some attention this year. A roll of 50mm fiberglass tape comes in handy.