Thread: Riva.

Hi Riva, Q-Cell is commonly used for surfboard (and boat) ding repairs and can mix with either epoxy or polyester resin. It is made of glass microspheres. Another similar material is Poraver, made from recycled, foamed and crushed glass, which is also used in the construction industry as a concrete aggregate (comes in a range of grades from powder to pebbles), so it's fairly cheap, unlike boating stuff. Many boatbuilders I understand swear by wood dust (the stuff in the belt sander waste bag). All sand flat easily. Poraver and Q-Cell are probably stronger. Consistency should be like smooth peanut butter.

Hi Riva and welcome to the forum

Originally Posted by Simon Purser

Many boatbuilders I understand swear by wood dust (the stuff in the belt sander waste bag). All sand flat easily.

i have used sawdust from my orbital sander more commonly known as woodflour ( i find the stuff from the belt sander a little to coarse if you need a smooth finish) but it is hard to sand if you need to, micro balloons would be easier to sand but are more expensive.

the experts will be along soon to give you a lot more advice on this

Q cells are quartz spheres and a little harder to sand then micro balloons, which are 'glass spheres. Q cells can take more compression and is what I prefer under the LWL as a fairing compound.

Wood flour and the other fibrous filler materials will sand considerably harder and aren't good as a fairing compound. The usual result being you sand more of the surrounding areas then the filler, making things worse. Wood flour is much stronger then Q cells and balloons.

I'd use Q cells in your application as the next skin will place considerable compression loads on the inner skin.

Thanks for the advice.
I have some Q-cells and made the 1st batch to thin. Seems as though a thicker batch would be better.
24 hr drying time I presume?

You can toss a little silica in the mixture to thicken it up, rather then waste a batch. It takes very little to thicken up Q cells, so it will not add much difficulty to sanding.

Hi Riva,

Can't help you with the filler question, but just thought I'd ask about the build. 27' would be a Super Aquarama? Probably my favourite boat, absolutely stunning.

How far through it are you (and do you have any pics )?

If I may ask, are you associated with Frencheville Healy, down there in Paynesville? They do a great job of Riva's!

Regards,
Darren

Hi TK1, ( Darren)
I have built this boat upright and I am so far at the point where I have put the first 6mm skin on from the deck to the chine. I am filling a few hollow or flat spots before I glue the second skin on. I have some photos of the work so far and will post some of them next week. I am going away for some R&R for a week.
I have spoken to James ( Frencheville) only for some info. I was going to source ply from him but sourced it cheaper in Melb. They do a great job, but I am more interested in doing this myself as a challenge. My mission so far is to get the second skin on, then put a sub deck on build a fram inside the boat and the turn it over, to build from the keel to the chine.
The Keel has been bolted to the floor and string lines and level have kept the boat even.
It looks graet standing up.
Regards \Graeme

Hi Graeme,

Sounds like you've made good progress. They look huge out of the water but great lines. What a great weekend project

Good luck getting it finished...must be nice to have her the right way up and see the shape coming together.

Out of interest, have you decided on the engines?

Looking forward to seeing the pics!

Thanks for the update.

Regards,
Darren