The hull is now ready to apply the glass fibre tissue to strengthen the outer skin. The tissue is cut to shape using a pair of scissors and laid onto the hull. Next I poured the fibre glass resin into a container, added the correct amount of catalyst to allow enough time to work and to make sure the resin sets hard.  This work must be done in a well ventilated area, or outside. Do not brush the resin, but stipple it  into the glass fibre to push the resin through the fibres and onto the hull. While working the resin take care to ensure no air bubbles are left in the fibre glass tissue. When the whole of the hull is cover set aside to cure for a couple of days.

Fibre glass tissue applied to outside of hull

Fibre glass paste applied over the glass tissue

Having allowed the resin to harden, the out skin can be applied. For this I simply use car body filler paste. A hull of this size will require a 10 kilogram tub of paste. The paste is mixed with is catalyst and applied to the hull in small areas, starting from the keel and working towards deck level. The paste is allowed to harden and then sanded, using a sanding block with wet and dry grit paper of various grades. This paper is available from motor accessory outlets.

The versatility of the car body paste is that it can be used to add any details, such as the armour plating around the mid section of the hull, quickly and easily. I simply clamped a long piece of hardwood to the side of the hull and applied the paste up to the edge of the wood and allowed the paste to harden.  I then remove the hardwood and a neat straight edge is achieved.

Armour plating detail along side of the hull

Hull completed ready for hull plating  detailing

The last stage is to obtain a smooth finish on the hull. The use of different grades of wet and dry grit paper, from rough to fine will slowly remove all the blemishes. Any hollows in the hull can be highlighted, filled and sanded. This technique gives a good strong hull that weighs very little, plenty of internal space and relatively quick compared to other hull building techniques.