deck repair materials

[Bob J.]

I'm getting ready to repair a bunch of spider web cracks & a couple of areas that need structural re-enforcement on the deck prior to paint. Seeing how my hull is polyester resin, it seems logical to me to continue the use of this product w/ a high density filler like West 404, which I already have. I'm priming the grinded out areas with Interlux 2000 prior to filling/fairing.

Some of the stuff I've read about deck repairs suggests using epoxy w/ low density filling/fairing compound like West 407, other articles recommend the use of a vinylester filler to patch & fair the gel coat areas.

Is there any reason why I can't/shouldn't move forward using a high density filler with polyester resin? Once it's cured, I'd wipe it down w/ acetone, then soap & water prior to laying down the paint undercoat/primer.

Thanks in advance,
Bob

 

[SchwarckT]

I've made full thickness deck repairs using polyester resin with mat and cloth. The results have been very good so far.

 

[Chris Nowell]

The folks at "Industrial Plastics" tell me that for those kind of repairs the epoxy is usually tough enough to use without a filler. Problem is, gelcoat won't stick to it. I've used polyester resin with a filler called "Profill" in all my crazing and crack repairs and then finished it with waxed gelcoat mixed with pigment to match the original color as close as possible. I've yet to nail the color issue but the overall repairs have turned out really good The "West Marine site has a few really good videos regarding patchwork like that. May be an idea to watch a few of 'em and maybe you'll get a few ideas.

 

[Bob J.]

Most of the spider web/gel coat cracks I'm going to address with 3M vinylester filler.
The couple of areas that I'm grinding out to beef up w/ glass, I'll just use the polyester stuff I've got. I'm painting the topsides so matching the existing gelcoat isn't a priority.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Eric M]

The only advantage of the low density filler is that it sands easier than the higher density fillers. So if you have any areas that you expect to have to do any significant sanding of your repair you might want to consider the lower density filler. A keel to hull joint repair I did I used the high density for the first round where I was filling the majority of the joint and then the low density filler for follow up coats to get it perfectly smooth. One question, why the Interlux primer on the bare surface? I think you want your resin to bond directly to the roughened, sanded surface. Interlux as a primer over you whole repair before paint makes sense.

 

[Bob J.]

One question, why the Interlux primer on the bare surface? I think you want your resin to bond directly to the roughened, sanded surface. Interlux as a primer over you whole repair before paint makes sense.

I saw it somewhere, could have been the Interlux site. The application had more to do with sealing the substrate than it had to do with priming the surface.