Fisher 30 Ep 38 - Using Epoxy and Polyester - depending on need

Refurbishing of a Motorsailer from 1976. This Fisher 30 Northeaster has been torn down and are now being rebuilt inside. In this video I continue patching with polyester and fibreglass. Sara and I also do the glassing of the ceiling. It´s getting there....

[@wilfleek9975]

Very relieved to see some rain amongst all that sunshine, or it would not be Norway!

[@hsobstad]

Oh.. Don´t worry! Check the weather forecast for my hometown of Bergen, Norway right now. Rain, rain, rain...! ;-)

[@papachefnashvillecity3838]

Pleeeeease keep your voice as it is, it's simply unique 😊 I'm following your videos from the first one ever sent and will carry on ❤

[@hsobstad]

I think I can do that. ;-) Thanks for watching (all the videos) :-)

[@richardtribe9788]

Hello from nz

[@hsobstad]

Hello from Nor :-)

[@user-qr6cz9ln6n]

This installment shows very good progress. I am looking forward to your next phase. The cabin is coming along very nicely, good work on the sundeck. I like when you show the country side. it does remind me of Hawai'i very much. Good to see Sara again.( ta vare pa deg og ha en god uke)

[@hsobstad]

Thanks for kind feedback. And some Norwegian too...! :-)

[@joewilliams5396]

I like the way you talk and explain things. Thumbs up-from me.

[@hsobstad]

Thanks, Joe! :-)

[@normanboyes4983]

Helge love your content, and your ‘YT character voice’. Never easy working fibreglass overhead but you work well as a team and are getting it done. Good work up at the cabin too.👍⛵️😀

[@hsobstad]

Thanks for telling me, Norman. Have a great weekend :-)

[@simonpritchard6074]

Great to see you two working together and making it fun!... Keep the voice please and thanks for another lovely film. Thanks Helge and Sara

[@hsobstad]

Thanks Simon for your lovely feedback :-)

[@terrynorton3182]

Interesting to see you using Acetone and wearing PPE. I worked at Courtaulds for a year in the cellulose acetate shop, making film for Sellotape etc. We had a tap on the wall and would regularly wash our arms and hands in buckets of Acetone. 40 years later I'm still here to tell the tale, just! Great videos, love to see your kids helping!

[@hsobstad]

uhh... Sounds unhealthy. Good for you that you have come through it without loosing your health. The gas mask i most important with the Polyester. Smells like h...! :-)

[@longhunter1951]

Love the boat, love the cabin and the scenery, don't change anything, just keep on keeping on.👍👍 Cheers Steve

[@hsobstad]

As you command, Steve! :-)

[@longhunter1951]

@@hsobstad 😉

[@guvnermcgovern]

Your videos have a lot of humour mostly because of the voice you use, if you talked in your normal way the videos wouldn't be so watchable so keep it up 🇳🇿

[@hsobstad]

Will do :-)

[@snowgorilla9789]

Your bulkheads will be more than strong enough, you are doing an excellent job

[@hsobstad]

Thanks for telling me your opinion about the work. :-)

[@user-qv6qn7tl4c]

In natical terms the " roof " is refered to as a "deckhead ". Love the show.

[@hsobstad]

Thanks. I will try to get that into my head (less available memory)... ;-D

[@JAMESMT-mm6zl]

Another excellent video. Always great to see Sara, her expressions really add to the fun. That’s going to be a real nice deck, what a view. Thanks for sharing.

[@hsobstad]

Thanks for positive feedback :-)

[@gca259]

RE: polyester filler recipe. Stir MEK catalyst into polyester resin. Add 3mm or 6mm long E glass fibre chopped strands (available from GRP suppliers) and continue mixing until the correct 'peanut butter' consistency is achieved. Practice with a small amount (100ml of resin) and you will see how easy it is to make your own easy to use, inexpensive filler. Your videos are a delight 🙂

[@hsobstad]

Thanks for the recipe. I must adress one problem I do experience. The polyester resin cures to gel within 5 minutes. Spending half of that time mixing chopped glass fibres into the resin gives very little time to add the mix and to place the plate. How do you deal with that time issue? :-)

[@gca259]

@@hsobstad While it is usually recommended to use either 1 or 2% catalyst, it is possible to go lower provided the resin and catalyst are mixed thoroughly. Polyester only needs a tiny amount of catalyst to start curing. When I worked in a factory producing GRP parts my boss said, 'the resin only needs to sniff the catalyst' 🙂 Also, mix small amounts that you can deal with in 5 minutes. Keep half a litre of acetone in a pot/jug for cleaning brushes, rollers etc. Best Wishes 🙂

[@hsobstad]

@@gca259 I see. So 1% is not the lowest for the catalyst/hardner.... I have avoided getting below 1% in the fear of the polyester only partly curing. I do mix only small amounts that I can use within 5 minutes or less. I have never ever cleaned a brush or roller from polyester. Didn´t think that was even possible. Have only cleaned metal tools. Thanks again for valuable input! 🙂

[@duncanjames914]

Thanks!

[@hsobstad]

Thank you very much, Duncan! :-)

[@duncanjames914]

@@hsobstad You are very welcome. 🙂

[@Nena84734]

Your voice is fine! That’s a million dollar view from your deck!!! What a deal on that teak! Nice work on that bulkhead!

[@hsobstad]

Thanks. :-)

[@duncanjames914]

Hello Sara and Helge! It's great to see the dynamic duo back in action (although I know Sara is always there behind the scenes). The progress on the boat looks great. Your energy continues to amaze me. I think the best part of this is the memories you will both have together in future years. What a beautiful collaboration. Now my random thoughts... The cabin deck is looking great! I enjoyed the beautiful scenery while on your motorcycle ride. Your voice is fine with how you speak - don't change a thing! 🙂 Keep going and courage to you both!

[@hsobstad]

Hello to you, Duncan! :-) Thanks for your - as always - motivating feedback :-)

[@duncanjames914]

@@hsobstad Always a pleasure my friend.

[@johnfife3062]

The boat, the polyester filleting, the cabin deck, the motorcycle trip, Sara, and "this voice" are wonderful. Thank you! As a Yank who's been converting to metric (it's about time) I'm greatly entertained to think that in Norway 28C is "hot." (It's 20H and 33C here.) And that Norwegians apparently do not wear hats in the rain and snow. (I do at any temperature below 10C.) Differences are fun.

[@hsobstad]

Hehe... Metric is a pain compared to "the old ways". But easier than going the opposite way as it is easy to calculate different scales. mm vs cm vs meter. We still use knots on boats so not fully converted yet... ;-) On 33C I dont do anything. Just exist to find shadow and cold... :-)

[@captlarry-3525]

In California, we leave a gap between each plank, which allows for swelling in rain, or prevents rain water standing on the deck ,

[@hsobstad]

We have the same rule. But these planks are already soaked.... I choose to lay the planks with a smile (the wooden rings smiling) to be able to reduse the twisting of the wood screwing down on each side. Flipside of this is the collection of water... :-)

[@robertpettigrew9042]

Another good video! Keep it up.

[@hsobstad]

Will do, Robert! :-)

[@Flicka20]

Polyester over Poly is just fine to use. Epoxy over poly is just fine too! What worries me is when you use polyester over the epoxy. As I have said before, I have had it delaminate before. I guess we will both find out in time 😬

[@hsobstad]

I totally get it. My bet is that the limited area where it does not stick means less compared to the total strength of this bulkhead. I would not have done this while making the engine bed (used epoxy all the way). :-)

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

You've reached the same stage and face the same problem as Dan and Kika on their electric sailing boat rebuild. They are facing higher temps rebuilding Uma..as they are in Italy. Say hi to Sahra thats an amazing wrap around monitor.

[@hsobstad]

Yes, I also follows the rebuild of Uma. Being in Italy I guess the problem is more severe than up here in the north... We are back to lesser temperatures now. :-)

[@saraisabelsbstad4569]

Hiii

[@jakobusphsteyn3500]

In my part of the world 26 degrees is nice and coolish. Very nice and tolerable and I built a boat in this conditions successfully. It can be done.

[@hsobstad]

Sure enough. Having such heat (and more) all the time, one adopt to that. But I guess you still had to take measures to prevent the polyester from curing to fast...? :-)

[@jakobusphsteyn3500]

This was in the 1980' to 90'. The resins at that time must have been a lot more tolerant and less specific than the newer lot. I only whish you success and a lot of pleasure in your endeavors. Would like to visit Norway, but financially at this stage imposable, but have been to the Antarctic in the early 1980's. Did experience genuine serious cold.

[@hsobstad]

@@jakobusphsteyn3500 There is a tendency to change formulas to be less pollutive. That might av affected the tolerances. Experiencing the Antarctic must have been cold, and colder than up here 👍😊

[@alanduncan9204]

Deck looks good - needs a handrail though it's a long way down.

[@hsobstad]

Yes, I think we are actually by law obliged to have a 1m high handrail. I wish to have a removable one, to easier remove snow during winter.

[@mazdarx7887]

Burglars are great, Nobody knows they are there, and they are really good in the tomato garden

[@hsobstad]

:-D

[@Greggspies]

Is live to tour my motorbike in Norway the scenery looks fantastic

[@hsobstad]

Hi Gregg. You will not regret touring in Norway. You must how ever tolerate mixed weather; but if you manage to see the beauty in a rainy nature then you will be ok. Plan well. Not all places are the same. Eastern Norway is less and western part is more. Northern parts can be magical! Just do it! :-)

[@johnwalker5938]

The boat is coming along nicely, great work. I'll be heading up to my C&C26 on Tuesday to do so Gelcote work looking forward to getting back to the boat.

[@hsobstad]

Hi John. Love that boat (C&C 26) with its majestic bow and a fin-keel! Good luck with your gelcoat work. Remember to prep well ;-)

[@arnekvinge6073]

Have the same white, red, blue Halvorson MC skinn overall. Keep up the voice.

[@hsobstad]

Hi Arne. I was not aware that I filmed my MC suit. It is correct that I have a Halvarsson that I bought new about 1989 or so, from Dag Bibow at Outboard Motor (today MC-marine) in Komediebakken in Bergen. According to Bibow he was the designer of that specific style. Sound strange actually, but it is still a nice suit in good condition. But I prefer the new suit I have :-)

[@rossjon4795]

Great job editing Sarah ! 😁 i think your dad is one cool guy !

[@saraisabelsbstad4569]

Dont feed his ego too much, please

[@jabirucru6970]

Just a thought if you are going to have these hot days why not consider buying a small portable air conditioner which should be able to cool a small space like the interior of the boat. Also throw a tarp over the boat to cut down on the sun.??? Just a thought.

[@hsobstad]

That is - of course - good thoughts. I am lazy (no tarp) and cheap (no air conditioner)... ;-D

[@keithtregidgo5639]

It's all coming together, another good episode. I also was impressed with your decking, a nice neat job.

[@hsobstad]

Thanks Keith! :-)

[@wornoutwrench8128]

I think that on those too hot days, you should go up to the cabin. I would love to sit on that deck and have a beer, it looks so nice. Boat is looking good, hard to work for those of us not used to that kind of heat. In a boat, with a over-suit on and wearing a mask. No thank you🥵🥵🥵

[@hsobstad]

We just can´t complain about the heat, when it finally gets here, up north. :-) Having to fight for it (the boat) makes it even more appreciated when it is done. Just hope I do enjoy the slow boating style of life :-D

[@helium9000]

Nice work. Hello from Harstad.

[@hsobstad]

Hei Jørn! Thx! Hello from Bergen :-)

[@jojocole7770]

I really enjoy your channel however. Thumbs up to you and daughter

[@hsobstad]

That is great, despite the cabin-content ;-)

[@anthonyrstrawbridge]

I like the voice. Not so sure about the UK English keyboard. Using American English keyboard / spelling, ....and the algorithms. I switched 😊 fiber, fibre, fibreglass, fiberglass.

[@hsobstad]

Oooohhh...! Like color and colour. Kanskje, maybe, perhaps... ;-D

[@user-kc9by9ib2w]

❤🎉

[@stefanhellemar4501]

😊😊😊👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[@theresnobodyhere5778]

once mixed in the pot ,put the poly into a tray less thermal build up give you a little more work time ,when its in a small confined pot it accelerates the heat build up , all good though the two of you work good together how would you manage without your daughter

[@hsobstad]

A strong point. An increased surface (lik a roller tray) will keep cooling it from the chemically generated heat. Yes, it is very useful to get help from Sara when I get limited by only two hands. And as the Editor she gives life to all these videos. :-)

[@DRGBTL23]

Who’s Sara and why is she so beautiful?

[@saraisabelsbstad4569]

Life is full of difficult questions

[@hsobstad]

Only the birds know (Norwegian expression) but it might have something to do with my genes... ;-D

[@PeterPan-fu2zj]

Should you not have left some space between the deck planks to allow for expanding?

[@hsobstad]

Normally, yes. But these planks are soaked already, so then not really smart to leave to much space. :-)

[@mazdarx7887]

People saying not to poly on old poly are just reagitating BS Just before you laminate, wipe with styrene , it softens the poly giving you a partial chemical bond as well as a mechanical bond

[@hsobstad]

I shall try to get styrene. The mechanical bond seems fine. :-)

[@mazdarx7887]

@@hsobstad It usually is, especially if not structural. It is really funny how many people put down poly in recent years. Almost all of the examples they give are from people who did not follow instructions and established practices. One only have to look around to see many boats from the 60's and 70's that are still strong, if they were reasonably taken care of, and you can easily find boats much less than 20 years old that are falling apart. Epoxy seems to be the go to thing now-a-days but it still very expensive for no good reason. They keep the prices high because people will pay. If more people took the time to learn about poly and used it, the companies would have to lower their epoxy prices to compete.

[@hsobstad]

@@mazdarx7887 Yes, a bad job means bad outcome too. I miss a balanced debate about the using of epoxy vs polyester. 🙂

[@captlarry-3525]

I know nothing, but can't you wet out the glass on a flat surface, and then apply it overhead and roll it out ?

[@hsobstad]

That was the B-plan. But since pre-wetting softens the glass so it acts like a wet cloth, hanging down we figured to prewet the ceiling instead and add dry glass mats as plan A. That worked like a charm! :-)

[@badgersupdate]

Love the channel! You will find it easier to edge if you pull the chopped strand apart on large areas instead of cutting with a scissors. Also be aware that epoxy can’t break down the bonding wax in some Chopped strand matt. Polyester will melt the wax and pull it to the surface.

[@hsobstad]

@@badgersupdate Thanks for interesting aspects of glassing that I was not aware of 🙂

[@dadejazzba402]

Presoak the fiberglass

[@hsobstad]

I should do that as it would prevent a lot of the dripping of polyester everywhere :-)

[@hmo1234]

Hej Helge Har du gode steder hvor du køber spareparts for Fisher 30?

[@hsobstad]

Hei. Jeg kan ikke si at jeg har det nei. Det som er ødelagt/defekt blir erstattet av andre deler. Tekte du på noe spesielt?

[@hmo1234]

@@hsobstad ja, viskermotor bagbord vindue, vinduer i overbygning, runde koøjer og mange andre ting.

[@hsobstad]

@@hmo1234 Viskermotor er vel kurrant å få fatt i hos en vanlig båtutstyr-butikk/nettbutikk. Vinduer er problematisk. Jeg har ikke gode svar der (ennå i hvert fall). Kunne godt tenke meg å skifte vinduene i overbygning men det er dyrt og jeg kjenner ikke ennå til noen som kan levere fornuftig kvalitet til fornuftig pris. Beklager. 🙂

[@Jonathanbaker]

yo yo

[@omvaren]

I know long time ago I compared your voice with Zelensky's, but I am sorry for that now. Keep it this way...its sturdy like your boat, it fits you!

[@hsobstad]

OK to change your mind. I may have gotten under your skin ;-D

[@omvaren]

@@hsobstad Sure you have! :)

[@jojocole7770]

Hello subscribed to your channel to watch boat repair not house and deck work.

[@hsobstad]

Some of my viewers enjoy the cabin-content and the sceneries very much. I understand if you skip it. Sorry for the inconvenience. :-)