celticguitar Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 I am looking for a good cheap place to buy epoxy resin and tape for the seams on my boat project. I see alot of places but it seems kind of confusing. Is there a place that offers this as a kit tape and resin together for certain lengths etc.? Dewey Quote
celticguitar Posted July 28, 2006 Author Posted July 28, 2006 Hello all I managed to find the resin I needed at a local marine hardware store. The product is Evercoat fiberglass resin A gallon and tube of hardner for about $40 My question is resin seems to be taking a long time to harden on boat. The hull is lauan. It cured just fine in mixing container and roller pan etc. I mixed it according to ambient temp chart on container. Is this a reaction with the wood? It's been over 24 hours and it's hard in some places but tacky in others Quote
Charlie Jones Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 A gallon of resin and TUBE of hardener?? Sounds like polyester resin to me, not epoxy. Sounds to me as if you didn't get a complete mix. If it IS polyester it'll eventually kick, even if it takes a while. But the strength will be questionable in those slow places. If they don't cure, you'll have to scrape the soft resin off and recoat that area. and maybe even grind off the glass ( IF it doesn't cure) and redo it. Quote
Andrew_Butchart Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 There are several different types of Polyester resin - it sounds like you're using a laminating resin which is fairly common. These resins are designed for multiple layers and are designed to not completely cure until the final finishing layer is applied which is usually the same sort of resin with a wax additive. The good news is that applying a coat of paint to the resin also has the same effect. It will also stop the smell that I'm sure you've noticed. While polyester is more forgiving of poor mix ratios than epoxy, if your hardener wasn't evenly mixed through the batch it might not cure for a while. Cooler temperatures can also delay curing as it is a chemical process. What I have done when faced with almost the exact same issue recently was to paint on a thin coat of resin mixed slightly "hot" over the uncured resin. After a day everything was set up properly. I'm sure though that if I were a more patient person that it would have quite likely cured on it's own. Just a tip - I've noticed a colour change in my resin after I have completley mixed in the hardener. You may want to see if your resin has the same property and just keep mixing until you see the start of that colour change. Quote
Charlie Jones Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 Andrew- I seriously doubt he's gonna get a laminating resin from a hardware store. I've never found one. I have to get laminating resin from a local fiberglass boatbuilder. They use it exclusively and inject the wax into the mix for the final layer. Your "hot coating" will work but I sure wouldn't rely on that cure in places where you need max strength. Another emergency cure is to over coat the laminating resin with Mop-n-Glo. That will inhibit the air and give you a cure. But that's just for "I gotta do this and I'm outta wax" times. Do remember we are talking polyester resin here. NONE of this applies to EPOXY. Still and all, Ray had the best advice. Graham at B and B sells epoxy at very reasonable costs. I just ordered 7 1/2 gallons from him day before yesterday. Lower cost per gallon than the 3 gallons of RAKA I just bought last week. Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 Evercoat Company manufactures a number of polyester and epoxy resins for automotive and some marine uses. Also polyester body fillers and putties, etc. Their #499 is a polyester resin for fiberglass work, "not laminating". (Although they do make a laminating resin for professional use primarily. ) It can use either the cream hardner or liquid hardners. But it does really need to be mixed thoroughly or it will only cure in spots. It does bond OK with some woods and plywoods but not all of them. Most of their epoxies are designed for table top use and related coatings. Quote
celticguitar Posted July 29, 2006 Author Posted July 29, 2006 8) Hi All The number on the can is Evercoat 5501 and says for fiberglass work, general boat repairs, boat building, laminating, waxed for tack free finish. The finish in small places finally cured after a coat of primer was applied and the polypaint looks to biting tight also. I had forgotten how much boat paint costs. Was it always this expensive relatively anyway? I don't remember my old runabout that I had about ten years ago being that expensive to paint. Quote
celticguitar Posted July 30, 2006 Author Posted July 30, 2006 No it's not a stitch and seam boat. The plans are for a lightweight Jon boat for fishing with the kids something stable. They are about 30 years old the plans I mean not the kids. It does have a frame of sorts. Let me start over again I think I am confusing the issue. I was looking for epoxy for a good price and I believe I omitted the fact that I did use epoxy for the 2" seam tape for joints in plywood in the earlier message. The gallon and tube was for the seal coat to encapsulate the hull because epoxy was so expensive local for a small amount. It's working so far and the price was right. The boat is looking nice dark green hull with natural interior. I just hope it floats and holds together till I can make something I can take my time with. Interesting enough though a couple of neighbors have inquired about it as in a subtle could you build one for me kind of way maybe not Who knows? They all said it's not everyday you see somebody build a boat. Quote
celticguitar Posted July 31, 2006 Author Posted July 31, 2006 8) I'll keep that in mind thanks everyone for the info Quote
celticguitar Posted August 11, 2006 Author Posted August 11, 2006 Success! It floats! Seams held perfect. My wife ,son,daughter and I took it for a shake down cruise today at the local pond. We call it Latis godess of water and beer. My three year old son loves it especially after watching and helping me build the boat. He didn't want to get out. I used an old 24lbs thrust trolling motor I repaired to power it which pushed it along nicely. Lots of free board and very stable. We can't wait to go fishing in it. There's nothing like building and using your own boat! I will definitely build another next year maybe a skiff or dory for the bay. I will send pics as soon as I size them for uploading to this site Quote
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