Re: Body Filler
I am always happy to complicate things.
The filler you use depends on the type of repair you are doing and the finish you plan to put on it. There are two things to consider.
Is it above or below the water line, and, are you using paint or gelcoat to finish the repair.
The general rule is that gelcoat does not bond well to epoxy. So if you are planning to paint, epoxy is a better all around choice. There are many good epoxy fillers on the market, Marine Tex is one of them. Generally any filler that says it is good below the water line is going to be an epoxy product. However keep in mind that gelcoat does not bond well to it. Personally I would use an epoxy product on any boat bottom that is kept in a slip or in the water for extended periods. (anything longer than a day)
You can use cheaper polyester based products for above the water line repairs. The thing to consider here is the finish. Automotive fillers are generally polyester based and are meant for paint. It is a safer bet to use a marine filler like Quickfair or Formula 27 if you are going to color match and use gelcoat.
If you are filling and fairing large areas it may be better to mix your own filler. I generally use epoxy for a complete paint job. And mix fillers to the resin to suit whatever repair I may be doing. In turn I use polyester resin and fillers for structural work and for making fillets.
I hope this helps,
epoxy filler for fairing work
enjoy
drewp
