Photo gallery of ariel #74 restoration

[ebb]

Josh, looks like a great job!

Hope you got out of that mat binder pickle.

There is a mat-like product called 'x-mat' that I have always assumed was generally available, but has not proven to be.
Called Knytex - it is an epoxy friendly mat loosely sewn* to a thin double bias woven roving. I'm sure it'll work with poly and vinyl esters.
It's available from TapPlastics. 19oz and 24oz - the stuff gobbles up laminating epoxy.
It has equal strength rating to woven fabric and is very useful because it likes to be persuaded into corners and is also great for tabbing.
If you don't mess with it while fitting, it is stiff enough to place into position exactly. Same way wetting out, if you don't mess with it using a brush, you can get good wet-out with a green squeegy.
It's stiff when dry and gets conformable when wet. I usual cut darts on one side of a long corner tabbing just to get it to fit better and easier to wet-out.

I've used very little woven fabric in Little Gull's refit, using x-mat for everything.

Have always wished for a lighter version, less thirsty,
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*NOT "STITCH BONDED" as it says in the TapPlastics description.