How would YOU do it?: Reglassing

After searching, asking, and compiling magazine articles and previous posts on how to reglass the bottom of a hobie 18, I'm pretty much set as to the method I'll be using to reglassing the bottom of the hulls.

However- My main question is what type of fiberglass and epoxy and hardener do you think works best? What have you had good or bad experiences with? I'm most likely going to special order the fiberglass. Picking the right fiberglass is my main concern. Price isn't too important (I'd rather do it less often than cheap). Just a few things you should know-

1- The hull bottoms are pretty worn but no holes or leaking and it's not worn down to the glass yet.

2- I'm not going to race this thing, no. I'd sacrifice a wee bit of speed for durability.

3- It's gonna get painted afterwards (probably with an epoxy-based paint).

4- I'm doing this solo, maybe with a buddy, and outside too.

I don't know if or how much those factors change anything but you never know... Any and all input/suggestions/anecdotes will be helpful- Thanks guys!

If you're not even worn down to the glass, then the hulls aren't THAT worn. All you really need to do is fill in the deep gouges/scratches with filler, sand it fair, and re-gelcoat with several layers of gelcoat. My boat had 1" wide brown stripes running about two feet in front of and behind the daggerboard trunk before I did the repair earlier this year. Only if the hulls are worn down to the glass would you really need to consider laminating on actual glass.

Do some more research, I think you'll find that the general consensus is that using epoxy and paint should be avoided. You want to stick with polyester/vinylester based resins and gelcoat as a top coat.

1" wide fiberglass tape should be used if you feel you need to add glass to the bottoms.

I did this same repair this year in a couple of afternoons for my beach boat (most of the time is spent waiting for the resin to cure).

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if its not worn grooves you may be ok adding several coats of gelcoat. Gelcoat is pretty durable. Once it wears off reapply. No glass cloth needed if not worn through. H18 is solid glass on the keels, no foam. You can sail for many years before repairs are needed.