Polyester or epoxy????? Help!!!

[jwaldrop]

To repair a transom (new wood) and floor in a fiberglass boat, is polyester OK (with glass cloth) or should I bite the bullet and pay triple for epoxy?

 

[gcboat]

Re: Polyester or epoxy????? Help!!!

Bite the bullet and go with a good laminating and lay up epoxy. Yes, it is more expensive but in the long run it will outlast that poly by years! Also, since most all boats are polyester manufactured the epoxy will have a better bond than reapplying poly. Just make sure your prep work is spotless !!!!!!
Nothing will bond well to dust and dirt - nothing.

 

[Coors]

Re: Polyester or epoxy????? Help!!!

epoxy

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Polyester or epoxy????? Help!!!

It's up to you.

Epoxy is stronger and bonds better, plus it makes people feel better thinking they used the best product they can buy, is it needed, not really.

Polyester will work well for this job and it will last as long as you need it to.

Wood rots because it gets wet and it normally gets wet because holes were drilled and not sealed, or areas of the wood were left open or uncovered (poor workmanship or design), it makes no difference if it's epoxy or polyester.

There are times when epoxy is what's needed, but it's far less often than what many people think.

 

[rbryant1492_mfb]

Re: Polyester or epoxy????? Help!!!

In my reading I see that expoxy gives a stroonger bond and will bond to other things easier. Poly is a lot cheaper but gives a weaker chemical bond.

 

[thinksun]

Re: Polyester or epoxy????? Help!!!

It's up to you.

Epoxy is stronger and bonds better, plus it makes people feel better thinking they used the best product they can buy, is it needed, not really.

Polyester will work well for this job and it will last as long as you need it to.

Wood rots because it gets wet and it normally gets wet because holes were drilled and not sealed, or areas of the wood were left open or uncovered (poor workmanship or design), it makes no difference if it's epoxy or polyester.

There are times when epoxy is what's needed, but it's far less often than what many people think.

Well said. I just completed a restoration of a '71 Sidewinder Lo-Pro which included new transom. The original design for transom was poor and allowed for rot. I used a poly system, sealed every corner and opening well knowing it is ten times better than the 36 year old one I replaced.

Epoxy is good but expensive so judge the value and future value of your boat to justify costs.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Polyester or epoxy????? Help!!!

The new floor may easily be done with polyesther resin. It will be easily strong enough and water resistant enough.

The transom is not as easy to decide. Do you have the full original outside "skin" of fibeglass to work with? I am concerned with the attachment points of the new transom. If they are not a good strong design, or if you have any doubts about them, I would use the epoxy. Whereas if you have cleaned out all the rotted wood, and sanded the fiberglass shell to clean dry glass, and the wood is a good fit, you can probably use polyester. I would put some cloth between the new wood and the old shell and clamp it with a piece of plywood on the outside to assure good adhesive. I would also put some heavy roving on the inside of the transom, where it joins the sides and floor of the hull. Also put some cloth between the layers of plywood, and on the inside of the new transom.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Polyester or epoxy????? Help!!!

Use mat between any wood to glass or wood to wood areas, cloth has very poor bonding strength.