poly vs epoxy

giterdone72

Seaman
Joined
Jan 26, 2010
Messages
51
Hello all-
I just picked up my first 'project' boat, an 85 Bayliner Capri Bowrider w/ 50hp Force. It is a "fixer upper" (haha) with a near perfect hull and motor. All else will need to be redone by me including upholstery, seats, deck, carpet ect. So I know this being my first boat I will have lots of questions. I am fortunate enough to be highly mechanically inclined, but have never done some of the work needed on a boat including fiberglassing. I got the boat home and after noticing some soft spots on the bow deck and rear I gutted the whole boat and cut out the bad fiberglass spots in the rear(stern?) and the bow. I will need to replace/add a few rotted cross braces (side to side stringers?) to support the front deck. I am trying to do this without removing the bow seats that are filled with foam(dry) and are in good cond.
Now as for my question(s) Can I lay/screw a new 1/2 plywood deck on the stringers with the edges of the ply on the bottom lip of the bow seat fiberglass? will this be a strong bond after glassing the top of the ply and tying it into the vertical glass? I have been reading about the differences in poly/epoxy glassing and am trying to do this on a budget. would you 'wet' the top of the stringers with poly, if using that, before screwing the deck down to them? or use epoxy for the deck adhesion and poly to waterproof?
Thanks in advance
 
Last edited:

81 beachcomber

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Messages
187
Re: poly vs epoxy

Hello all-
I just picked up my first 'project' boat, an 85 Bayliner Capri Bowrider w/ 50hp Force. It is a "fixer upper" (haha) with a near perfect hull and motor. All else will need to be redone by me including upholstery, seats, deck, carpet ect. So I know this being my first boat I will have lots of questions. I am fortunate enough to be highly mechanically inclined, but have never done some of the work needed on a boat including fiberglassing. I got the boat home and after noticing some soft spots on the bow deck and rear I gutted the whole boat and cut out the bad fiberglass spots in the rear(stern?) and the bow. I will need to replace/add a few rotted cross braces (side to side stringers?) to support the front deck. I am trying to do this without removing the bow seats that are filled with foam(dry) and are in good cond.
Now as for my question(s) Can I lay/screw a new 1/2 plywood deck on the stringers with the edges of the ply on the bottom lip of the bow seat fiberglass? will this be a strong bond after glassing the top of the ply and tying it into the vertical glass? I have been reading about the differences in poly/epoxy glassing and am trying to do this on a budget. would you 'wet' the top of the stringers with poly, if using that, before screwing the deck down to them? or use epoxy for the deck adhesion and poly to waterproof?
Thanks in advance

i would not use epoxy... use regular fiberglass ("poly" will never bond to epoxy after) but other than that your plan should work just fine. some pics of the project would be great.....everyone on hear is crazy for pics, makes us feel more involved lol. good luck
 

giterdone72

Seaman
Joined
Jan 26, 2010
Messages
51
Re: poly vs epoxy

Thanks for the advice here's a few pics from before I started the work. I will take some more and update as I progress.
 

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TitanTea

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 4, 2009
Messages
102
Re: poly vs epoxy

Use one or the other (epoxy/poly) but not both. New epoxy will adhere to poly but new poly doesnt like to be put on epoxy. Epoxy is superior in my opinion. Its also more expensive.
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: poly vs epoxy

Don't use either one to bond the plywood down, use an adhesive, it will cost less and work better.
 
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