Re: '86 Starcraft Aluminum Fishmaster 16' transom repair
Unless you can keep your garage 80*F+ I'd still go with the 4:1 fast mix at this time of year, as mentioned above... less time between coats and less chance of an amine blush which takes even longer to set.
You want to work quickly when applying epoxy anyway. Some people like to roll it on which is ok, but it wastes too much material for me that way. I use the pour and spread method, mix a small batch and dump it onto the plywood and spread it around with a small screed and then back brush with a chip brush. The screed I use is actually a $4.50 plastic wallpaper tool from Home Depot, it spreads the material out evenly and quickly. Here's a pic:
The red plastic cups are great for mixing the epoxy in and you just trash them after each batch, the same with the chip brushes.
I used the 635 3:1 mix in 90*F+ weather and had plenty of time to lay everything down with the spread method, and still had to wait 24 hrs. between coats... but I was pleased with the results:
4 coats is like a sheet of glass over your plywood without any worries of water ever soaking into it.
I like to sand with 120 grit between coats, not real heavy... but just enough to knock the shine off and give the next coat something to grab onto.
When you buy your epoxy, be sure to buy the pumps too for easy measuring of the mix.
You may also want to pick up a quart of the SM Fairing compound, it makes a great filler for skimming over any bad spots (knots on the C side) and filling any voids you may find when you make your cuts. Just mix the powder with a little bit of epoxy resin to a peanut butter consistency and skim or fill.
Fillers
