epoxy resin

[maddog2]

I bought a gallon of West System epoxy resin with hardener and filler. I have to replace my stringers and floor. How far will this gallon go? I was shocked at the $93. per gallon price on epoxy. Can I just do my stringers with epoxy and use polyester resin on the deck?

 

[MTribe08]

Re: epoxy resin

I bought a gallon of West System epoxy resin with hardener and filler. I have to replace my stringers and floor. How far will this gallon go? I was shocked at the $93. per gallon price on epoxy. Can I just do my stringers with epoxy and use polyester resin on the deck?

Yea..you just got ripped off. Sorry. You could buy 5 gallons of Poly with hardener for around $100-110. Or normally 2-3 gallons of Epoxy and hardener for around $100. If I were you, I would take that back..at the price you just paid you are going to need at least about 7-800$ worth of epoxy to do your project. Or if you shop right about $150 worth of Poly. If I were you, I wouldn't mix the two..but thats just me..I highly doubt you will ever know the difference, except in your wallet. Your boat was most likely made with Poly it probably rotted due to neglect or bad storing habits or it would have lasted a LOONG time. My next door neighbor has a 91 Monterey bowrider..well taken care of over its life..its still solid as a rock everywhere. Made from Poly.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: epoxy resin

A Gal is not going to go very far. I buy my epoxy online from Aeromarine $132 a 3 gal kit without pumps, $140 with, and 15 gal kits for $525. Epoxy is stronger than poly and a little more forgiving if your prep work is not 100% . Either one will do BUT remember epoxy will stick to poly but poly will not stick to epoxy. You can do the stringers with epoxy and the deck with poly just make sure you keep the poly off the epoxy or it will fail.

Regards,

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: epoxy resin

What you paid for a gallon of West System resin isn't too far off the mark. You can get it cheaper on the internet but then you've got shipping to consider. I've been using West system for about 20 years with excellent results and have never had any bonding problems. Consider going online and reading more about the differences between poly and epoxy. My preference is epoxy because of the bonding and strength performance I've seen over the years. Either way, enjoy your project!

 

[maddog2]

Re: epoxy resin

Thanks for the input.
The West Systems epoxy is sold here on iBoats.com for$79. It is only $4. less than the store price of $93. after the shipping charges.

What I don't know is the material the hull of my boat is made from.

Since poly wont bond to epoxy, I am thinking that the hull must be of epoxy. That would make it a bad choice to use poly on the deck since the deck wont bond to the hull?
am I right?

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: epoxy resin

Thanks for the input.
The West Systems epoxy is sold here on iBoats.com for$79. It is only $4. less than the store price of $93. after the shipping charges.

What I don't know is the material the hull of my boat is made from.

Since poly wont bond to epoxy, I am thinking that the hull must be of epoxy. That would make it a bad choice to use poly on the deck since the deck wont bond to the hull?
am I right?

It is most likely poly almost all boats are initially made from ploy.
Woodnaut is right on the money with his statements, I also use epoxy in all my projects. aside from the cost, there is only one drawback with using epoxy, you can't gel coat over it. If you plan on painting then its a non-issue. One of the reasons I use the epoxy that I do is because its non blushing, low viscosity, and in a 15 gal kit it comes to $35 per gal which is in my book makes it a good deal

 

[Boater45]

Re: epoxy resin

I bought a gallon of West System epoxy resin with hardener and filler. I have to replace my stringers and floor. How far will this gallon go? I was shocked at the $93. per gallon price on epoxy. Can I just do my stringers with epoxy and use polyester resin on the deck?

I use Marinepoxy, you can get it here: http://www.duckworksbbs.com/supplies/epoxy/marinepoxy/index.htm
Its an easy 2:1 mixture......mix it with woodflour for your filets or get some SystemThree quick filet.

My 2 cents

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: epoxy resin

I used US Composites epoxy. It's $61 for a gallon kit. 5 gallon kit is $243 which is actually 6.6 gallons including the hardener. I'm on my 4th gallon and I've replaced my transom, bilge, a small part of the stringers, and almost done with the deck replacement. I've never used poly resin, and this is my first time with epoxy on a boat, but I have used epoxy extensively in the commercial flooring business and I think it's awesome. Good luck.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: epoxy resin

You can definitely find epoxy cheaper but the west systems stuff is very good material. Epoxy is almost a requirement if you are doing repairs, it is so much stronger than poly.

However poly can be very good when used right. You always have to use cloth of some kind since poly shrinks which puts stress on it, which is why it cracks on all the old decks where manufacturers just put poly/gel coat over wood. With cloth it's plenty strong. It's just not as strong as epoxy.

And it's a myth that poly won't stick to epoxy or that you can't gel coat it. It just requires careful prep and care to make it strong.

All that I always use epoxy, hate the cure time but love how strong it is.

 

[jonesg]

Re: epoxy resin

No problem using polyester at all, rebuilt my whole boat with it.

Don't forget epoxy is raather toxic,
but poly stinks like a skunk.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: epoxy resin

Chances are your boat is polyester. I can't see a boat builder using epoxy. It would just be too expensive.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: epoxy resin

My boat is homebuilt from marine ply and mahogany. I lost count at 12 gallons. Aye carumba.

 

[maddog2]

Re: epoxy resin

After all the different responces, I have decided to return the West System epoxy and hardener.

I found a boat repair center that will finish my project for me.

I have already gutted the floor down to the hull.

Capt. Steves boat repair of Denton,NC has quoted me a price of $1,060. to rebuild the stringers and floor system and coat it with a rubberized floor. It will include a 5 year warranty.

This may be a bit more expensive than if I did it myself, but it will be done professionally and I wont have to waste the next 2 months of weekends working on it.

 

[jonesg]

Re: epoxy resin

My boat is homebuilt from marine ply and mahogany. I lost count at 12 gallons. Aye carumba.

Yeh but you ended up with a real boat .

 

[jonesg]

Re: epoxy resin

After all the different responces, I have decided to return the West System epoxy and hardener.

I found a boat repair center that will finish my project for me.

I have already gutted the floor down to the hull.

Capt. Steves boat repair of Denton,NC has quoted me a price of $1,060. to rebuild the stringers and floor system and coat it with a rubberized floor. It will include a 5 year warranty.

This may be a bit more expensive than if I did it myself, but it will be done professionally and I wont have to waste the next 2 months of weekends working on it.

They will not do as good a job as you can at that price,
"professionally done" doesn't equate with quality.
Expect a slop job on the stringers.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: epoxy resin

I've got you all beat.

About $55/gal shipped for a gallon of 1:1 epoxy resin:

EBAY store:
http://cgi.ebay.com/EPOXY-RESIN-BOA...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item334e76992e

Direct website:
http://www.polymercompositesinc.com...etails&flypage=flypage_new.tpl&product_id=126

Been using this epoxy for all my deck repairs, and thickening with varying amounts of silica for crack fill, fairing, and hole filling. I recommend it.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: epoxy resin

After all the different responces, I have decided to return the West System epoxy and hardener.

I found a boat repair center that will finish my project for me.

I have already gutted the floor down to the hull.

Capt. Steves boat repair of Denton,NC has quoted me a price of $1,060. to rebuild the stringers and floor system and coat it with a rubberized floor. It will include a 5 year warranty.

This may be a bit more expensive than if I did it myself, but it will be done professionally and I wont have to waste the next 2 months of weekends working on it.

Do yourself a favor and check in on the project frequently. Best of luck with it.