EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
DANIELLE HOPKINS
Danielle Hopkins is one of our star Fiberglassers here at West Head . Her job is to laminate each build to enhance structural integrity and ensure every boat is completely waterproof before it hits the water . She ’ s been in the trade for over 10 years .
Fiberglassing is meticulous work and requires a keen eye and careful attention to the varying needs of each boat style . For Danielle , a quality glass job is neat , properly layered , and durable . The two types of fiberglass , matte and woven , need to be evenly applied in alternating layers to create the strongest seam . The most common application is a five layup , with matte applied as the final layer to give the boat a clean , finished look .
Different boats require different combinations of fiberglass depending on what they are going to be used for . Bulkheads require a thicker layup to strengthen them while boats that are already built strong typically require a thinner layup , specifically for waterproofing . In areas of the boat anticipated to have a lot of wear — like on a deck where fishermen will be dragging regularly — Danielle will apply more fiberglass to give the material a longer life span . Danielle collaborates with our shop manager , Dana Stewart , to determine how and where to apply fiberglass most effectively for each build and client .
DRIVEN IN THE SHOP AND OUT , DANIELLE RECENTLY GUTTED HER ENTIRE HOUSE DOWN TO THE STUDS AND PERFORMED A FULL RENOVATION WITH HER PARTNER .
Danielle ’ s career in fiberglassing began when a friend of Danielle ’ s invited her to work at a boat shop where her friend was fiberglassing . Danielle realized she had a real aptitude for the detail-oriented work and has been doing it ever since . Looking for a change of pace , Danielle joined the West Head team this past February . Having already gotten to know some of the rest of our team here , she knew it would be the perfect environment to take the next step in her career .
In her free time , Danielle has a few projects on the go . She has done everything from building outboards with a friend of hers for mossing and mackerel jigging , bass fishing , exploring the maritime waters , and camping with her kids to skydiving . Driven in the shop and out , Danielle recently gutted her entire house down to the studs and performed a full renovation with her partner . We ’ re looking forward to getting to know Danielle better in the years to come , and if you see her working on your boat , don ’ t hesitate to say hello .
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