Since the recent introduction of our paddle boards there
have been many questions about how we make them look the way they do with the
patterns. The technique that we use is not new and is relatively simple when I
worked building fibreglass boats we used a similar technique to finish the
decks on a number of small sailboats.
The patterns on the deck are not the result of great
artistry or a custom made decal as some have speculated but is simply the
careful application of a layer of fabric to the sheathing that covers the
forward deck of the paddle board.
Step
one is a trip to your local fabric store to peruse the various fabrics that
they have in stock, guy’s this is a great way to fell like a fish out of water
and to get more than a few questioning looks as you will most likely be the
only male in the store. My most recent trip coincided with a sale so the shop
was full of bargain hunting women rather than the one or two that have been
there on any other occasion when I was looking for material, for cockpit covers
(rip stop nylon).
What
you are looking for is a pattern you like that is available in cotton, quality
is not really a problem as and fabrics with a lower thread cont will actually
make wet out easier. Test a small section to be sure that the colour will no be
a problem with the epoxy, this has yet to happen but I’ rather be safe then
sorry. When you get the fabric home iron it to get rid of the crease that will
be in the fabric from the roll.
Cut the fabric about an inch smaller that the deck as
smoothly and cleanly as you can. With the fabric in place I use tape to outline
its position on the deck then roll about half the fabric back exposing the deck
and then wetting out the deck with epoxy and laying the rolled up section of fabric
back into the resin. Roll up the other half of the fabric then wet out the rest
of the deck and apply the fabric, remove the tape from the deck and cover it
with the fibreglass sheathing.
Wet
out the sheathing and use a squeegee to force the air out of the fabric and the
glass sheathing, proceed as you would for any other epoxy sheathing job adding
a couple more thin coats of epoxy to fill the glass cloth’s weave.
The deck is then varnished as with any other bright finished
wood project and once the several coats of varnish which you have applied are
cured then the edges of the fabric if not perfectly cut or if they have threads
showing can be cleaned up. This is done by the simple application of pin
stripes which are available from most automotive supply stores.
That in a
nutshell as they say is pretty much all there is to it.
