Fibreglassing Made Simple - with WEST SYSTEM Epoxy

Fiberglassing doesn’t have to be messy, itchy, or intimidating.

In this video, I walk through my practical, low-stress approach to fiberglassing wooden boat parts — the same methods I use in my own shop to keep the process clean, efficient, and predictable.

If you’ve avoided fiberglassing because it feels complicated or unpleasant, this video is for you. Over the years I’ve developed simple techniques that remove most of the frustration and help produce consistent results without unnecessary fuss.

Today we fiberglass flat plywood deck panels for an Iain Oughtred–designed Gannet using WEST SYSTEM epoxy products. Along the way, I cover preparation, cloth handling, epoxy application, and several small tricks that make a big difference in the final finish.

In this video you’ll learn:
• Why fiberglass improves plywood durability and stability
• How to prepare panels before glassing
• Setting up a clean workspace for epoxy work
• Cutting and positioning fiberglass cloth properly
• Joining cloth seams cleanly using salvage edges
• Mixing epoxy efficiently with simple shop tools
• Proper wet-out technique using a spreader
• How to avoid bubbles and excess resin
• Timing multiple coats for a chemical bond
• Using peel ply (release fabric) to reduce sanding
• Bias-cut fiberglass for tight curves and stems

Fiberglassing isn’t about rushing — it’s about preparation and patience. Done well, it saves time later and dramatically improves durability.

🌐 Website: https://www.nomadboatbuilding.com
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If you enjoy practical wooden boatbuilding knowledge and want to help keep these videos coming, please consider supporting the channel on Patreon.

This video is sponsored by WEST SYSTEM Epoxy:
https://www.westsystem.com

⏱ Chapters:
00:00 Why Fiberglassing Feels Intimidating
00:36 Project Overview — Gannet Deck Panels
01:19 Why Fiberglass Plywood Decks
01:49 Shop Preparation & Clean Workspace
02:49 Mixing Epoxy Using a Drill Press
03:43 Cutting Fiberglass Cloth
04:17 Positioning & Smoothing Cloth
06:02 Is Fiberglass Actually Itchy?
07:38 Understanding Salvage Edges
08:43 Joining Two Pieces of Cloth Cleanly
10:05 Cleaning Up Cut Edges
12:13 Managing Overlaps & Layout
14:02 Planning Your Glassing Day
15:16 Preventing Air Bubbles (Temperature Trick)
15:23 WEST SYSTEM Epoxy Setup
17:01 Safety & Respirator Use
17:21 Wetting Out the Cloth
21:03 Removing Excess Epoxy Properly
22:50 Timing Additional Coats
24:31 Using Peel Ply / Release Fabric
25:51 Results After Cure
27:53 Sanding Reality Check
28:49 Bias-Cut Fiberglass for Tight Curves
31:06 Practice Makes Better Results
31:18 Thanks & Closing Thoughts

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