epoxies

[ray21]

well, from what i've read on here, its looks like if i'm gonna do a deck replacement, the best way is to use an epoxy. i've looked at several on the web, and while expensive, i guess its worth the $$$ if it works. my next question, for some of you familiar with epoxies, is how much i'll need to order. i'm looking at replacing about a 7.5' x 8' piece of decking...i think by the sound and look the stringers are ok. so basically, i need enough to fully coat the new floor, join it to the stringers, coat the new seat mounts, and allow for any unforeseen coatings i might find later. but at that cost, i don't want to get too much...

 

[PurpleDragon]

Re: epoxies

Your best bet for a coverage question would be to call the manufacturer & ask their tech support. I've heard (second hand) that all the major mfg's have good customer support on the pre-sale - you have to call them, though.<br /><br />Rex S.

 

[crab bait]

Re: epoxies

that's a good idea , dragon !! can't go wrong there .. if i'd a guess i say 1/2 gallon .. don't be to afraid of extra .. it can last well over a year .. keep it outta hot & dampness. you'll use it up somewhere.. remember to get some thickening agents like milled fibeglass, cabosil, silica , ect. for to glue ply down with..

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: epoxies

Ray21, where did you look on the web? DId you try http://www.raka.com or http://www.shopmaninc.com/products.html <br />Larry at raka told me a gallon will coat 140 sq ft of plywood. Of course you have to concider the dryness of the wood and other factors. He went on to say a gal will wet out 40 sq ft of 17/08 glass. Not sure what your seat mounts consist of. Not really sure how your were thinking of joining the deck to the stringers but the bedding to the stringers will take a good amount of epoxy to make up the puddy and you will need some milled fiber and cabasol to thicken that. I would say a 2.5 to 3 gal kit will do you. You can get a 3 gal kit from US Composit for around 80$. Thats the best price I have found. Link to there epoxy prices.<br /><br /> http://www.shopmaninc.com/epoxy.html <br /><br />You will want the thin epoxy and depending on temp what hardner.

 

[chumbucket]

Re: epoxies

Hawk can you send me e-mail Thanks

 

[ray21]

Re: epoxies

thanks guys, that's a lot of help...yeah, hawk, that's where i was looking but didn't really know which to go with, i appreciate the help. where can i get the best deal on fiber cloth and fill materials? i read somewhere that i could use fine sawdust as a filler for putty??? this true? the 2 seat mounts are probably 1' sq, and how else could i join the ply to the stringers but with the epoxy? screws aren't an option, are they? one more quick question...with the new epoxies completely waterproofing the wood, do i need marine grade ply, pressure treated, or can i just save $ with the cheap stuff?

 

[oldboat1]

Re: epoxies

My guess would be one gallon of resin, and a quart of hardener. I use the West System stuff with good success -- cost for the resin and hardener would be about $75, plus another $10 or $15 for pumps. You could also start with a quart of resin and a pint of hardener, with proper pumps for those containers. When you run out, you resupply and can just keep refilling the containers (if, for example, you later decide you want a gallon of resin and maybe a quart of hardener). Use disposable brushes. (Foam brushes don't hold up very well to heavy coating or prolonged use, and you are not doing finishing work.)<br /><br />I've used drywall screws and a drill-driver, filling the holes afterward with thickened epoxy. Since the screw is sealed in, I don't think rust is an issue -- but you can elect to use galvanized screws if you choose. The screws are used in addition to the epoxy for adhesion.<br /><br />good project....

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: epoxies

Chumbucket, I cant link to your email. My email is formula233@comcast.net. RAy21, on my boat I am working on they just used the puddy on top of the stringer and no screws. They used no screws cause they did not worry about the flatness of the stringer tops and used the puddy to fill any gaps. You can see where the deck came down to nothin in places and 3/8" in others. This floor was in a 1970 23' formula and was soild and compleatly stuck to the stringers. I pulled the floor because the bottom part of the strings had started to rot because fresh water had gotten traped under them is some voids between the stringer and bottom of the boat. I would use a ex ply wood, not cheap but dont think you need marine if you use epoxy. For tieing down the deck the epoxy puddy is fine and if the stringer are true on top you could throw in some screws like oldboat 1 said. I have worked with west sys and severial other brands epoxy and to tell you the truth I have seen very little difference in all of them except the price. Fillers can be bought at both those links with raka haveing the most selection. Sawdust will work but you need the fine powder stuff to make a non saging puddy. The make a premade epoxy puddys but I have never used them as I just make my own. On the ammount of resin. It seem like I always use more then I think I need thats why I suggest 2.5 to 3 gal kit. On mine I have used 35 gallons so far in the rebuild of my Formula and I still have the 12x7 floor and some stringer work to do. I did glass the whole boat together, hull to cap, with 4 layers of glass all the way around. Redid the transom, built a 100 gal fish box, recored the front deck over the cabin and recored gunwales about 32' worth 6" wide. Made epoxy puddy pads like 16 of them to support the poly tank. Pic are at this link if you want to check them out.<br /><br /> http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/formula2332000?d&.intl=us&.flabel=fld3&.src=ph <br /><br /> That a pretty big floor and cloth like 17/08 will soak up a lot. I would say with a 4" tab on each side of the seam all the way around = 20 sq ft of glass,1/2 gal if you use 17/08 cloth that will cure to about 1/16" a layer. The puddy for the tops of 4 stringers 8' long and whatever cross braces is another 1/2 gal, wild guess here, but this could go higher if they did like the floor joining like on my boat. The ply wood coating roughly 2 sheets both sides 128 sq ft plus the edges, very important the edge, another gal for sure. Thats about 2 gal and since I order the epoxy at 28$ a gal to save on the 75$ and gal I have to pay locally I don't want to run short. Thats why 2.5 to 3 is what I suggested and you did say something about unforeseen stuff. You will probally find something else you could use some on after you pull the floor up. Epoxy will keep a couple years at room temp.

 

[ray21]

Re: epoxies

hawkeye...thanks a lot...excellent post. great pictures too. i'm gonna order a 2.5 gal kit, and 50 yards of glass cloth tape for the joints and such. got some days off coming up and want to try to finish the project asap, while still doing a good job on it. i'll post the results as to how much epoxy i have left over after its finished. also plan on taking lots of pics, and i'll throw up a url when its finished to see what everyone thinks of the handywork (if that's not an oxymoron in my case). <br /><br />ps hawk - nice buck!

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: epoxies

Good luck Ray21. I just got thru using about 1 gal of epoxy the last 2 hours. I layed 1 layer of the 17/08 in the bottom. This is only the outside edge from the outside stringer to the hull side. I don't think you will have much left after what I just went thru. That buck suprised me on his size 219 field dressed. That huge for a Va deer. Horns in between the points are 5 1/4" around. Blackpowered him at 90 steps from my favorit tree stand. Once in a lifetime opertunity for sure. Thank for the compelments and one day when I am finished my project I will put together a url also but for now that yahoo page will have to do.