Fibreglass resin

[gareth harris]

Having read Don Casey and a couple of others, this seems the general rule of using resin:

Polyester - cheap, good UV resistance, bad water resistance.

Vinyl Ester - not cheap, good UV resistance, good water resistance. Good material for a deck, and glassing in the region of the deck.

Epoxy - not cheap, bad UV resistance, the best water resistance. Good for below the water line.

I am completely rebuilding my deck, and much of the boat's interior, plus repairing some hull damage.

If anyone knows more/better than what I have written, could you pass me your thoughts before I start buying resin by the gallon?

Gareth
Freyja E35 #241 1972

 

[Loren Beach]

a vote for epoxy

Another difference is the adhesion of new resin to an old/cured surface. Epoxy is rated far higher for this than poly resin. That's a major reason I use epoxy for all repairs and projecs. The only poly resin I ever buy is gel coat for deck and hull owies and I also used a bunch of it to finish out the bilge several years ago in white. (Much easier to keep it clean, now)

Note that if you contact industrial resin suppliers you can get a good price on epoxy. I have a friend building a 55' boat who gets it *really* cheap... in 55 gallon drums! :eek:

Best,
Loren

 

[Geoff Johnson]

Like Loren, I understand that polyester resin will not adhere to cured polyester resin and that the only option is epoxy at least for structural areas. Don Casey sums it up this way:

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/TipResins.htm