Are all epoxy's the same??

[MystyBlue2]

I am going to fit an ally plate to the back of my transom ready to mount new motor, im going to clag and bolt on with some puraflex40 and stainless coach bolts, ive been reading up that it is good practice to drill an oversized hole, fill with epoxy to seal exposed wood then redrill correct size hole for bolts,

would the gorilla glue 2 part epoxy be ok for this or do i need some sort of special marine epoxy from a fibreglass specialist?

Sorry for being a noob i just want to get this right first time round

Cheers

 

[Boathook]

I would prefer to use a 'marine' epoxy where I can can add fillers, thickness, etc. I did try a gorilla glue once and not very impressed by it.

 

[jrudge]

West system is the de facto boat standard.

I am probably with you that epoxy is epoxy but it is not that dear so on board I use west system.

 

[MystyBlue2]

I would prefer to use a 'marine' epoxy where I can can add fillers, thickness, etc. I did try a gorilla glue once and not very impressed by it.

So "fillers" is that like that gel coat plastic padding bodge stuff?

If so, what would be better using that bodge or marine epoxy?

Cheers

 

[MystyBlue2]

So a quick scour on ebay, there are 2 main different types of west sysetm epoxy,

G/flex and 105/205 epoxys.

If the epoxy is the way to go then which one will be tje most suitable for this particular job?

Cheers

 

[Boathook]

So "fillers" is that like that gel coat plastic padding bodge stuff?

If so, what would be better using that bodge or marine epoxy?

Cheers

Fillers are the west system 'fillers' that thicken or expand the epoxy resin to make it more suitable for certain applications. For your use I would possibly use microfibres as they thicken and add strength to a hole. There are other systems such as SP and blue gee and a lot of the 'fillers' can be used with other systems imho.

 

[Boathook]

So a quick scour on ebay, there are 2 main different types of west sysetm epoxy,

G/flex and 105/205 epoxys.

If the epoxy is the way to go then which one will be tje most suitable for this particular job?

Cheers

I don't know G/flex but I do use 105/205. Can't remember the difference between them but either would do i think. Mixing the resin and hardener correctly is important and I use electronic kitchen scales for that.

 

[MystyBlue2]

Brilliant thank you it all looks quite expensive stuff just to fill in a few holes though,

Would poly resin and shredded chop strand matting in tiny peices to make a thick filler type bodge have the same effect or does this have to be epoxy

Ive got poly resin and 450 matting from a previous job.

Thanks for your help and speedy replies

 

[Fishtigua]

Just as an aside, as a fan of West System, a mate was in Trinidad and had the sniffer dog on the boat. The dog went mad for a tube of white powder under the bunk. In the plastic bag was just silica filler powder. Boy, that took a day or 2 to clear up after a night in jail.

 

[Bajansailor]

Dan, what size boat and engine do you have?

The main purpose of the filler in the over-sized holes is simply to stop any water leaking in under the ally plate and getting into / rotting the timber core in the transom (I presume that it is fibreglass with a plywood core?).
Hence I would think that it should be possible to use your polyester resin with chopped CSM for this application.
And when you bed down the ally plate, use a good quality sealant underneath - if you do not intend to ever take it off again, you could use an adhesive sealant like 5200 or one of the Sikaflexes.

 

[MystyBlue2]

Yeah my boat is 12ft and fibreglass with a wooden transom core, thats why i wondered if just poly resin with bits of chopped strand would suffice in filling the oversized holes, my transom has been checked and has had the all clear from rot but im fitting a slightly bigger motor on and im going to fit a 5mm ally plate to back of transom and glass 2 wooden gussets in either side of the bilge. Id rather err on the side of caution and protect my transom now rather than when something happens.

Would chopped strand and poly resin have the same effect as west system epoxy for filling and sealing up oversized holes?

 

[waynes world]

When i do these jobs i use West System epoxy and there 407 filler powder.

 

[MystyBlue2]

Okie dokie seems west system is the way to go then, seems a waste paying 45ish quid for a kit of west system epoxy for a couple of holes, wouldnt mind as much if i had other jobs to use it on but i dont, ah well needs must il have to get some anyways haha.

Does it need to be warm outside for this stuff to cure? As the temp is now dropping and winter is just around the corner?

Cheers

 

[waynes world]

Okie dokie seems west system is the way to go then, seems a waste paying 45ish quid for a kit of west system epoxy for a couple of holes, wouldnt mind as much if i had other jobs to use it on but i dont, ah well needs must il have to get some anyways haha.

Does it need to be warm outside for this stuff to cure? As the temp is now dropping and winter is just around the corner?

Cheers

See here for smaller kits and just can be got here and used as low as 5degC with fats hardener. Buy WEST SYSTEM Kits - East Coast Fibreglass Supplies

 

[MystyBlue2]

See here for smaller kits and just can be got here and used as low as 5degC with fats hardener. Buy WEST SYSTEM Kits - East Coast Fibreglass Supplies

Great thanks so looks like the mini pack is the way forward then, price good too, think il buy it and hopefully get the work done before temp drops to below 5 degrees. Cheers

 

[Neil_Y]

I'd use chockfast, failing that we recommend Araldite 2011 for fitting rope cutters and spool. It prevents vibration loosening bolts and provides a bedding on uneven surfaces. You can thicken with talcum powder if it's too runny or warm.