The Frames

For the frame repairs, I decided on laminated frames fabricated of local Laurel wood, slightly lighter than the Naranjo, glued together with the alternative biobased Entropy Resins that I had chosen for all my repairs. I had learned about this epoxy product through Ed, who had successfully introduced it a few years earlier to the boat building in Sarteneja. Entropy Resins is formulated with Super Sap® Technology which reduces the environmental impact.

The first attempt of trying to build the frames in place was not successful and we proceeded with a system, that worked very well for us. Separated from the hull with a sheet of wax paper, we would glue together three cut to length strips of Laurel in place and screw them down to the hull with light galvanised screw. After the epoxy had cured, we would take the screws out, remove the frame “template” and, on the work bench, add four more strips of wood, so the frame had the desired thickness. We would then clean up and finish the shaping of the frame with a grinder, putting it in place and reshaping it until it would fit well. 

This way, we made about 12 complete frames and more than 15 frame repairs. During the whole process, both Ed and Tom helped me immensely. 

Bio based Entropy Resin for wooden boat
The first three strips of Laurel wood going to make the template for the frame
Bio based Entropy Resin for Wooden Boat repair
Screwed into place on top of wax paper, it will have the needed shape after the epoxy is cured
Wooden boat restoration Entropy Resin
Now, some more strips are glued onto the cured template
Wooden boat restoration Entropy Resin
Drying time
Female carpenter wooden boat repair
After cleaning up the frames, they still needed some shaping before they were fitting perfect. Those are some of the starboard side cockpit frames ready to be installed
Wooden boat restoration
The starboard cockpit bottom before
Wooden sailboat restoration Alani Sarah
… and after

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wooden boat restoration Alani Sarah
And with the new stringer.
Wooden boat work Guatemala
Tom and Ed working hard.
Female captain restoring wooden boat
Myself at the epoxy work station.

 

Read the next chapter The Planking