Epoxy resin coverage?

juneaux

Recruit
Joined
Mar 19, 2002
Messages
3
Ok, Its time to tear out the rotted floor in the 15' Glassmater Bowrider I bought last season. I have the treated plywood and tools and am itching to begin as it is warming up here in S.C. and I'm ready to hit the lake. My question is.....Once I get the new wood in place how much epoxy resin do I need to cover approx. 70 square feet(one sealer coat and one coat to sink the glass in)? What is the typical coverage for epoxy(1 quart to X square feet)? And who is the recommended supplier/brand? <br /><br />Thanks,<br />Blair
 

crab bait

Captain
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Messages
3,831
Re: Epoxy resin coverage?

treated ply i wouldn't use unless it is totally dry which most new bought pt ply ain't... you don't have to go marine ply but should go with douglas fir exterior ply.. both are EXACTLY the same thing , EXACTLY, 'cept doug fir X will have voids where as marine has NONE... what moisture is in the wood when encapsulated ( sealed )with epoxy, stays in the wood an will cause rot , over 15 % moisture.. as far as coverage goes,,,, i can't help you ...i buy a 1/2 gallon if i need more i buy more ... as of brand ... flip a coin.. what ever is available & easly accessable.. but it must be the thin type not the thick 5 minute type.. get what your marine supply has to offer .. probably west systems.. but there's numerous brands.. i order from CLARK CRAFT ( on web ) cause i like it , good price , leaves no wax & it's a 1 to 1 mix .. good luck & remember to 'poxy the sides & bottom of ply 2 coats..
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Epoxy resin coverage?

Juneaux,<br /><br />I buy it in smaller quantities-1/2 gallons. I can always return or keep an UNOPENED container for the next project.<br /><br /> One gallon will probably do it for you.
 

Hawkeye1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 15, 2002
Messages
142
Re: Epoxy resin coverage?

Above are right on the plywood thing. You might not get a good stick to the treated if its not totaly dry. You can even layer in EX 1/4 luan and epoxy and come out with a very nice floor and overlap seams. For epoxy covarage it will depend on cloth weight. heavier the cloth the more resin. I found raka epoxy to be as good or better then west system and the price is right. http://www.raka.com He has some good reading on his web on how to's. I think you are looking at atleast a 3 gal set if you use 17/08 cloth and make up some thickend up puddy for bedding the new floor to the stringers. Don't forget you will need to coat the underside with 2 coats and the edges 3 coats. If you have not pulled the floor up yet, you might want to do that 1st to make sure you don't have to do stinger work. I have been restoring a 1970 23' Formula and have 35 gal of resin and 800 sq feet of 17/08 glass in it and have not even done the stringers and floor yet. All that went into the transom, front deck, fish box, gas tank pads and glassing the gunwales to the hull all the way around with 4 layers of glass. Epoxy dont go far in the heavier glass like 17/08 which cured ends up about 1/16" a layer. I dont have any afiliation with raka just like his epoxy and prices. Shippment usally get to me in 3 days from Fl and Iam in Va.
 

PurpleDragon

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 11, 2001
Messages
124
Re: Epoxy resin coverage?

For what it's worth, I saw a similar question posted over on rec.boats.building<br /><br />I'm no plywood expert, but the consesnsus seemed to be that *most* manufacturers use the same glues for exterior-grade plywood that they use for their marine-grade.<br /><br />Interior-grade: That's a gamble. Usually you can counton it being water-soluable, since it's not intended to be in contact with moisture.<br /><br />G'Luck!<br />Rex S.
 

joe parker

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 28, 2001
Messages
34
Re: Epoxy resin coverage?

exterior plywood and marine ply are the same except for one thing; marine ply has no voids in any of the layers. the layers are patched and filled, you know, those football shapes. this makes the plywood stronger, especially when you are going to bend it. For a floor, I would use exterior grade, at about half the price. Hey purple dragon, did you get your book yet?
 

PurpleDragon

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 11, 2001
Messages
124
Re: Epoxy resin coverage?

Joe,<br /><br />Yes, I received Renn's book, as well as the widebody & jumbo addendums. I've read through them at least 3-4 times, - and each time, it makes more & more sense, and is less intimidating.<br /><br />I decided that I will go ahead with the Tolman Jumbo - but that will be after I build a little 12' Herring Skiff - just so I can get the hang of the epoxy encapsulation & using fiberglass. Then the big project will start. :D I've ordered & received my epoxy, but still need to get some fiberglass & fillers for the fillets.<br /><br />For anyone interested in the Tolman skiffs, there is a Yahoo Group for building the Tolman Skiffs. It's at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tolmanskiff/<br /><br />Rex S.
 
Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
11
Re: Epoxy resin coverage?

I used to work in a shop where we built cedar strip canoes and we switched from the old fiber glass to epoxy west system. Boy what a difference. The epoxy was a less brittle set with out all the itch. A lot more responsive to a hit than fiberglass. We never worked with the product mentioned in the above post(raka)... Just for consideration, having used it in the past,I would recommend it highly.javascript: x()<br />Smile
 

seajay

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 17, 2001
Messages
40
Re: Epoxy resin coverage?

Marine grade plwood will have more plys in ratio to thicknes than exterior plywood also marine is made from harder woods than exterior. :D
 

PurpleDragon

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 11, 2001
Messages
124
Re: Epoxy resin coverage?

Hi BLCC,<br /><br />I'm using fiberglass, however, I'm NOT using the fiberglass polyester resin. I'll be doing all the glassing in with epoxy.<br /><br />Rex S.
 
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