Styrene Hull

[sinjon]

I am making my first paddler - the Metcalf Director and have dug myself into a self inflicted hole.
I made a ply frame structure from the plan, but decided to use the  MB styrene hull to cover it, however the two are not compatible, but by cutting the ply in half,  from in front of the paddle boxes to the stern I have managed to get a reasonable fit. (worry about the bow later)
The problem is that I am using the ply frame to mount the rudder and that meant cutting a hole in the styrene, normally I would run in fibreglass to fill any gaps, but I am told that the chemical reaction produces enough heat to melt styrene.
I could pack it with P38, but I have doubts about how well it would bond to styrene long term.
Any thoughts please ?

Colin

[sandserin]

Hi Colin

you could try abrading the inside of the hull with heavy grade wet and dry used dry, then attaching it with P40 , small amounts to tack it, ballast the hull in a bath etc and then use it as a heat sink on the outside , as you fibreglass on the inside

hope this is useful john