repairing an old mirror dinghy

B

Blue Nun

Member
Joined
23 Mar 2003
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31
Location
Pembrokeshire
www.roryowen.co.uk
I've just bought an old wooden mirror dinghy that needs a lot of work doing to it. Some of the panels are damaged and the whole thing needs repainting. Does anyone know any good web sites that will help me with with advice and technques e.g what adhesives, techniques and paints to use.

Thanks

Rory /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I did the same with a Heron. Lots of stripping. Use a hot gun and one of those triangular scrapers on a handle. You don't gouge the wood as much. Paint stripper is hardly any use. Flat with a resin bonded 80 grit paper.
Epoxy all frame and panel repairs. Dry the boat out thoroughly. (3 months at least) and epoxy the finished wood. Only epoxy the outside. If you do inside as well it seals the wood and any wet wicking in gets trapped. Repair structural damage with new wood and epoxy. Get a slow activator. The one I used was from Fyne Boats in Bowness and lasts at least 40 minutes before starting to go off. You can repair "frilly" ply with epoxy soaked well in. I tried to recover as much wood as possible as I wanted the boat to stay as original as possible. Fair the epoxy with a 120 grit and prime and paint or varnish as usual.

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Have a look Here
 
Anything that's the right colour. I found the cream I wanted in the Blakes range, it wasn't yacht enamel it, was Brilliant Enamel. Not much point in using a two-pack as you've already protected the wood with epoxy resin. Ordinary one pack is easier to touch-up.
I used polyurethene varnish in high-impact areas, but International Schooner varnish, which is tun oil based, for the deck because it flows so much better. On top of epoxy you don't need zillions of coats. I've done 3 so far. If it gets scruffy a quick flat and another coat restores it. If it's just for sailing and enjoying I'd use polyurethene all round.
 
Looks fantastic! When does SWMBO get the sitting room back?!!

As an aside, it's never a good idea to use hot air guns on plywood, it weakens/destroys the glue between the laminates.
 
Yes. I use it on half-power and keep it well back from the wood. It's a slow process, but it beats strippers.
I tested it on the panel I removed from the hull and didn't see any deterioration (other than the fact it was 50 years old with a hole in it anyway)
 
LakeSailor, you've done a fine job on that Heron, I picked up a similar one which I intend to refurb to use as a tender and fun boat for the kids. I wanted to make sure that I rebuilt it as close to the original as poss, I found the Heron Association, do you know if that the best place for original plans etc?
 
They were helpful with dating my boat.
I think you need to give them a bell. There are some numbers on the site on the "Contacts" tab
Selway Fisher (on the "Building Your Own Heron" tab) sell plans.
The information sheets give info about class rules and approved modifictaions.

I just followed my nose and replaced frames with mahogony cut to the same dimensions, ply of the same thickness. As it was an early one built by a boatbuilder I reasoned there can't be a lot wrong with it.
 
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