How to Seal a Boat with Poor Man's Fibreglass

Homemade 8ft Plywood Boat that Fits Inside My Car - Step by Step Build - Part Three. This is Part three of a short series covering how I built a small plywood boat.
I needed a small take apart nesting boat which will fit inside my car, but which is light enough for me to take down to the river and fit together easily.
This boat needs to be able to carry myself, plus all of my fishing equipment, but it still needs to be relatively small and stable. I am trying to reduce any possibility for capsizing to the absolute minimum by building detachable Outriggers, (or Pontoons or Stabilisers) which can be raised or lowered as necessary.
Today I am sealing the joints using Poor Man's Fibreglass. Real boatbuilders use a similar process, but that uses fibreglass matting or tape which is soaked with an Epoxy resin. The result is a hard waterproof finish which protect from scratches and other damage. Poor Man's Fibreglass uses a waterproof wood glue and either a painters drop sheet of a cotton sheet to achieve the same aim, but it is a cheaper alternative.
I have absolutely no knowledge of boat building and I am not a professional woodworker, so please make any criticisms constructive ones. I can always learn from my mistakes and possibly build a Mark 2 version.
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[@PainterD54]

Yes Titebond 3 sticks to itself and can be used for boat building. Infact the Titebond 2 is NOT waterprooof, it's only "water resistant" according to the label. If you give the poor mans fiberglass three coats, sanded between coats, it turns out like fiberglass. Nice and smooth.

[@ruthdoyle9085]

You can also use latex paint in place of the glue. Simply paint the item, immediately put the cloth on and repaint immediately...the paint acts as the binding, glue and waterproofing all in one. You can buy returned paint (wrong color and any color will work until the last 1-2 coats). Latex paint can be diluted a little with water...

[@johnle231]

What about to foam

[@eddiedownunder9881]

Great video . And nice to see someone else using titebond 3 . I am about to use 3 myself , as I also believe it to be better than 2.

[@user-bt3fk2yv8r]

Thanks again for sharing your talent and skill ..

[@GLK-London]

Really impressed with your skills and experimenting Den. Very well done and presented, another enjoyable video.

[@kengraves3510]

Thanks for sharing Den, keep them coming, I enjoy all your videos

[@maxingham9139]

I will make a sample piece and dunk it in a bucket of water for testing 24 hrs. to make sure. Im planning to cover the bottom of a cedar strip planked boat. Thanks for showing!

[@johnwilliams2711]

First! You're really knocking them out this week Den. 😁

[@FishingwithDen]

I know mate. I want to get the testing & Final Assembly video out by the end of the week, Then I can go fishing again.😃👍 (Possibly in the boat, but depends on the rivers. We have had a lot of rain in the past week or so here).

[@jonmurph589]

You're making great progress there Den. Looking forward to the next one 👍

[@FishingwithDen]

@@jonmurph589 It's taken longer than I expected John, but hopefully I can get it out on the river soon.

[@barbaraneville5036]

Sunday Morning with Den 😃 you will be building an aeroplane next

[@FishingwithDen]

That depends on whether we get Locked Down again Barbara......🤣🤣🤣👍

[@Jesse-fz8pu]

Nicely done buddy, Looking to try it my self. Thank you for your time and patience explaining.

[@FishingwithDen]

Thanks Jesse. We are always learning mate, so if my video helped you, then I am happy to be of assistance.

[@barryjarman6670]

I hope there are no sharks where you intend to go sailing!!

[@FishingwithDen]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Barry!!!🤣🤣🤣👍

[@ernie5187]

I wonder if landscape fabric would work as well....

[@redbaroniii]

I use titebond III for all of my model boats. It works very well if I don't water it down at all.

[@rschiwal]

9:05 AAAAHHH, he took care of the drip!

[@Keepitsimple-m4p]

This reminds me of some of the antics the lads got up to on top gear ( clarkson and co, not the idiots that do it now ) I hope it works and lasts. 🙈🤞🏻

[@FishingwithDen]

Lol. Yep!!!🤣🤣🤣👍

[@wingnutbert9685]

Just a guess, but I wonder if you use a lower thread count cotton sheet, the air would get released through the material better? Lower thread count per sq. in being more porous. Thanks Den! Looking good!

[@FishingwithDen]

Interesting point Bert. I'm afraid I don't know the answer, but I had to make do with what my wife would let me use. Thanks for your comments.😃😃😃👍

[@wingnutbert9685]

@@FishingwithDen I've watched a few dozen vid's on DIY small boats. Saw a guy us bed sheets and resin to "glass" a kayak. If done right, I can't see a reason for it not to work. The thread count was something that occurred to me then so just thought I'd mention it here. I should think your glue version should hold as long as it don't get dragged on the ground. Looking forward to seeing more of your build.

[@wingnutbert9685]

@@FishingwithDen Also interested to see if you used the sheet strips too reinforce the inside corners.

[@FishingwithDen]

@@wingnutbert9685 I was concerned about the rails and edges getting scuffed up too Bert, so that's why I decided to fit the aluminium skids.👍

[@FishingwithDen]

@@wingnutbert9685 No, I used Poor Man's Epoxy mixed to a kind of toothpaste consistency for that Bert.

[@Offcut55]

Never seen it done with PVA but another great vid Den. Black marks could be the resin in the ply or nails and the glue reacting? Put some clue on a nail and see if it changes colour?

[@FishingwithDen]

I thought the same thing Phillip, but it's painted now and nothing is showing through.👍

[@geoff738]

Bet your good lady took one look at the boat and upped your life insurance Den 😉…

[@FishingwithDen]

Ye of little faith!!!🤣🤣🤣👍

[@easemailboxes]

I have done a similar thing. Except I used a layer of normal pva (cheaper) then canvas, then T3, then watered down undercoat, then undercoat x3 then enamel. I just like you noticed very ugly blackening which I have to say looked a lot like mould but could not be mould as it was formed in litteral days. I never sanded as I think the fibre gives the paint and glue grip. Looks great, feels strong. Im wondering how yours turns out in a year.

[@FishingwithDen]

It seems to be good so far. I don't use it in saltwater, but I haven't had any problems yet.

[@charlesstiles8904]

Will it flex or does it dry hard and brittle? I have a fiberglass boat that is rather thin and flexible. I'm looking for something to seal the spider webbing in the gelcoat before I paint the boat

[@jenniferj7588]

If you want to do poor mans fiber glass use glue 2 not 3 on the wood ... Make sure u sand wood then clean then put glue on the wood then canvas or breath able sheet then use old iron to seal your fabric down ...Make sure dry mostly then add paint coat desire about 3 or more sand lightly in beween.. If glue does not soak in material will not work right ...

[@raylazar7585]

why did you not cover the bare wood with the cotton sheet?

[@unedichi]

A cheap boat 16 feet in this material , is it possible ?? thanks

[@johnle231]

Yes

[@12vLife]

Thanks. This is extremely valuable.

[@dannydemaet4846]

👍👍👌🖐