Right epoxy for hull repair/cleanup
- Thread starter EdWard3
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West System stuff is very good. They've just announced "Boat Repair Kits" that have all the stuff for smaller repairs in one kit .. http://www.westsystem.com/ss/new-boat-repair-kits/
They have a great web site with lots of "How To" stuff..
They are not affiliated with West Marine, but you can find their products there as well as other chandlries like this site store or Jamestown or others..
They have a great web site with lots of "How To" stuff..
They are not affiliated with West Marine, but you can find their products there as well as other chandlries like this site store or Jamestown or others..
WEST has some great marketing and has convinced most boaters their stuff is the only thing to use but if you take your boat to a professional odds are they will not use west at all. A reminder WEST stands for Wood Epoxy Saturation Technique, not much to do with fiberglass there. In repairing a 80s boat built with polyester resin I would use what the boat was built with, polyester resin and this is what almost all pros would use. It is cheaper, easier to work with, and is after all what the boat is made of. You will be able to touch up after the repair with gel coat something you cannot do over epoxy. Do not get me wrong I like west and use a lot of it but in this type of repair I do not recommend it and would not use it.
Thanks Capt. Wayne Canning, AMS
www.projectboatzen.com
Thanks Capt. Wayne Canning, AMS
www.projectboatzen.com
Waxed gelcoat, MEKP, cabosil and pigments. Lots of sandpaper to 1500 grit and some buffing compound such as Finesse or Aquabuff 2000. Steer away from epoxies for this type of repair. I am assuming the damage is superficial and has not jeopardized the underlying laminate.
Epoxy is best used as a structural adhesive. For repairs where bond strength to the existing (cured) fiberglass is important - e.g. tabbing in a bulkhead or glassing over a hole after removing a thru-hull - epoxy outperforms polyester or vinylester resins in adhesion. (The later two resins work well when 'green bonding' during initial layup and construction). For cosmetic repairs like dock rash, go with a gelcoat repair. For really deep gouges above the waterline you can fill with polyester putty before gelcoating. Use epoxy putty for filling below the waterline. There are many good brands of epoxy out these - West is but one. West does have very good publications on repair available for free download on their website.
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