Chesapeake Light Craft Hosts Hands-On Epoxy Seminar in Annapolis Jan. 17

Chesapeake Light Craft ran a short, practical seminar in Annapolis on Jan. 17 that focused on marine epoxy fundamentals and shop best practices for small-boat builders. The 3-4 hour classroom/workshop combined demonstration and hands-on time, giving participants the chance to practice techniques that matter for stitch-and-glue projects and routine repairs.

The course covered epoxy safety and personal protective equipment, correct mixing and working times, and making structural fillets. Attendees worked with fiberglass tape applied over fillets and practiced fiberglassing over wood substrates, then moved on to fairing and fill-coating techniques. The agenda also included rail lamination and installing a breasthook, skills commonly required on small dinghies, skiffs, and other stitch-and-glue builds.

Chesapeake Light Craft structured the session for people building or repairing small boats who want supervised experience before attempting larger hull repairs or new builds. The short format made it accessible to weekend builders and those looking to refresh essential techniques without committing to a multi-day class. Hands-on practice under supervision helps reduce common mistakes such as over- or under-mixing epoxy, inadequate fillet shaping, or poor laminate consolidation that lead to wasted materials and rework.

Practical shop topics emphasized in the seminar translate directly to better outcomes in the backyard or community shop. Proper PPE and safe handling limits exposure to fumes and skin contact. Mixing to specified ratios and respecting working times reduces temperature runs and poor cures. Correct fillet geometry and tape overlap improve joint strength, while careful fairing and fill-coating deliver a smoother finish ready for paint or varnish. Rail lamination and breasthook installation are structural steps that, when done correctly, increase longevity and reduce rattles and loosened joints down the line.

For the Annapolis community, the class reinforced a local pipeline of more confident DIY builders and repairers who can tackle routine fiberglass and epoxy work without outsourcing. Chesapeake Light Craft provided registration links and contact information for those who wanted to sign up; future sessions typically follow the same practical format and will be of interest to anyone planning a stitch-and-glue build or preparing for hull repairs.

The immediate payoff is tangible: fewer botched layups, cleaner fillets, and safer shop habits. For readers actively building or repairing boats, the skills practiced in this seminar translate into stronger hulls and cleaner finishes, and a lot less nervousness the first time you wet out a layup.