Getting ready to Finish Hardtop--some questions for the pros

[searaytuna]

I am just about ready to put finishing touches on my recent hardtop fabrication. Here is what I've done so far:

Hard top is a sort of a trapazodial shape that measures 80"x76"

This is what I've used so far:
1" polyester foam core
Top layer: Foam--10oz cloth--1.5oz mat--10oz cloth used about 3gallons of resin
Bottom layer: Foam--6oz cloth--8oz cloth used approximately 1.5gallons of resin

All in all, this has been a learning experience and though it was pretty frustrating when the resin started gelling before I can use it, it has been pretty fun nevertheless. I can't wait to get to my boat tomorrow morning to work on this thing some more.

Question: For the size, did I use too much resin? the mat material really soaked up resin like there is no tomorrow!! I didn't use a mold(didn't have one) so I have some spots with protrusions and some small spot areas that have fiberglass bubbles(?). Can I sand these areas and then just put fairing compound over it? or do I need to patch it up with cloth & resin?

To acheive the smoothest possible surface, I was thinking of putting fairing compund, but how much of this compound before considered using in excess? Also, the guy at the plastic supply company(where I got my material from) told me I can use automotive filler to do my fairing, is this recommended for a marine application? 1 gallon of that stuff is like $12 whereas west system filler by what seems like about 1L is like $20. whAT SHOULD i DO? I just spent about 3 times more on fiber and resin than my original estimate and I am just about out of money..

Thanks for any direction or advice that can be given to me.

JW

[gonzo]

Bondo is a poyester putty. It works fine on above the waterline applications. It will need primer before you paint it to fill the pores.

[yokebutt]

Float on a slurry of gelcoat or resin mixed with Q-cell.

Yoke.