Ok so im building 2 wood hulls. do i need to water proof every rib and other wood pieces (i assume its a good idea)? And if so what is best/easiest product to use? I read something about spar varnish (which i have) then other things about epoxy (which i do not have nor even used/seen before) so suggestions are very welcome please. thank you!
Yes its a good idea. You can forestall it until after you've assembled the skeleton. Spar Varnish or Epoxy work fine. I would just use what you have. Make sure to get everything coated.
thats what i was thinking is there a specific type of spar varnish that is best or is it all good stuff?
If it's actual spar varnish, it's waterproof enough You can find it at Lowes or Home Despot. Brian Koehler and I did our Vanguard hulls with it and they did fine.
The answer to your question is: it depends. A lot of guys use epoxy to seal the framework and decks, but it's important to keep in mind that epoxy viscosity (thickness) varies, and if it's not thin enough, you can still paint it on, but it ends up as a brittle shell on the surface of the wood, rather than soaking into it. Eventually, it may crack, either as a result of combat damage or age. Once it cracks, water wicks into the cracks, and eventually degrades the integrity of the wood beneath it. I've seen epoxied frames that simply disintegrated over time. Some of us in WWCC have had excellent luck with Varathane water-based Diamond spar varnish. This is a low-viscosity, no-odor, paintable polyurethane that soaks into the pores of the wood, and truly seals it against water and UV damage, and - unlike virtually all hobby epoxies - expands and contracts with temperature changes, and therefore resists cracking. It's much less expensive than epoxy, as well. Home Depot carries it: http://www.homedepot.com/buy/varathane-1-qt-semigloss-water-based-clear-diamond-spar-urethane-264603.html Rob
Looks promising but I am guessing that the biggest challenge you are going to have with it is how you are going to be able to implement the coating just like that. And with everything working fine with all the extra components like the varnish and sealants, it surely will be able to keep up with it. I hope that you be successful with this as this looks really interesting if you ask me.
It's really, really, easy. Really You paint it on, and let it soak in and cure. Done it _many_ times. Both with spar varnish and West System epoxy resin. West is also great for waterproofing the receiver; some people put 3" extensions on the servo wire connections and dip the whole thing, some people have kept the epoxy away from the pins, and coated the receiver electronics like using a conformal coating. I've done it both ways, and it works.
I used Helmsman Spar Urethane (Clear Gloss) on the Rodney - it was never in the water, but sitting on the shelf, in the garage, and sometimes exposed to sub-zero weather conditions its held up amazinlgy nice. No cracking at all - still nice and smoothe. Just dusty. I'll probably do the same with the H-39. Brings out the grain in the wood really nice too. In Alaska I will have some severe conditions to deal with - very cold water, and often very fine silt from the glaciers. That stuff is everywhere. Ohh..and beavers...bears, moose loons, ducks.../sigh.
