Does epoxy protect boats being transported ?

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paulburn

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I'm buying a Pogo2 21 foot sailing boat from California, transported by road to Florida and then by ship to Southampton.

The builder advises getting the hull epoxied prior to delivery to protect the hull, I guess from road chips and stuff.

However, I wondered if better to keep hull naked for transport and epoxy when I get it into the UK - that way I can detect any damage sustained during delivery from being dropped/knocked etc as it wont be hidden under paint.

What should I do - grateful for advice !

Many thanks paul
 
paulburn said:
I'm buying a Pogo2 21 foot sailing boat from California, transported by road to Florida and then by ship to Southampton.

The builder advises getting the hull epoxied prior to delivery to protect the hull, I guess from road chips and stuff.

However, I wondered if better to keep hull naked for transport and epoxy when I get it into the UK - that way I can detect any damage sustained during delivery from being dropped/knocked etc as it wont be hidden under paint.

What should I do - grateful for advice !

Many thanks paul
Click to expand...

Does he really mean to protect the hull during transportation?
 
That's an interesting question! I haven't a clue about the correct answer but my feeling is that any damage that epoxy will be capable of hiding, will be the sort of damage that it could also cover. So if there is major impact damage, it will damage the epoxy as well as the hull. If there is minor damage (like stone chips), the epoxy would cover it anyway. I think epoxy is pretty much as brittle as gelcoat, so I guess that if there are stress cracks, they will crack the epoxy as well as the gelcoat? I guess that if there are stress cracks and they need griding out and re-gelling, it would be easier to do without the epoxy on? I can't think what other damage might occur. Fine scratches from lifting strops, perhaps? Presumably it won't be in the sun long enough to damage the epoxy? (which, apparently, is not especially good against ultra violet light).
 
I cant confess to know anything about this, but epoxy seems a radical solution. I have seen boats transported in a commercial shrink wrap. I would have thought this would be the most practical solution.

Gerry www.sadler32forsale.com
 
It is most likely that the supplier can see a dollar in doing the epoxy before dispatch. On the other hand you can probably do it yourself a lot cheaper. I don't think epoxy would do anything of any value in protecting the boat in transit. Around here a huyge number of GRP boats are always trailered to the water. I don't believe they get any special damage in transit. Certainly not compared to damage when in the water. (rocks collisions etc.)
Since our currency has increased in value we see a lot of new GRP boats arrive on the wharf. They are enclosed in heat shrink plastic so they maintain their show room shine. Perhaps more to avoid atmospheric dirt on decks than protecting hull.
What is important for hull protection is to ensure that trailer support rollers are adequate and all taking equal load as gel coat can be damaged by movement of the boat on the rollers or supports.

olewill
 
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William_H said:
It is most likely that the supplier can see a dollar in doing the epoxy before dispatch. On the other hand you can probably do it yourself a lot cheaper. I don't think epoxy would do anything of any value in protecting the boat in transit. Around here a huyge number of GRP boats are always trailered to the water. I don't believe they get any special damage in transit. Certainly not compared to damage when in the water. (rocks collisions etc.)
Since our currency has increased in value we see a lot of new GRP boats arrive on the wharf. They are enclosed in heat shrink plastic so they maintain their show room shine. Perhaps more to avoid atmospheric dirt on decks than protecting hull.
What is important for hull protection is to ensure that trailer support rollers are adequate and all taking equal load as gel coat can be damaged by movement of the boat on the rollers or supports.

olewill
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many thanks, thats really helpful, paul
 
The thing it's most likely to need protecting from if being transported by sea and on an open deck is the ship's exhaust. It can make quite a mess of things and seems to be quite aggressive, almost eating in to surfaces such as GRP. At 21 feet, I'd have it shrink wrapped or even consider having it containerised to protect against physical damage whilst lots of 30 ton, 40 foot containers are being loaded and unloaded around it at break-neck speed, that is if the costs aren't too prohibitive.
 
Is it likely that the supplier wants you to do an epoxy job to hide a defective hull?

It is true though that a barrier coat can be very tough and could give the boat extra protection.
 
Epoxy coating for transport protection. Madness.
Every boat gets transported from the factory. Insurance is wise. Make sure it covers the boat for it's true value whilst at sea. The shipping companies have very limited liability.

The road we live on is the route in for boat transported to Windermere. We get boats on wagons going past daily. New ones are usually covered in an opaque white skin wrap. Used ones are naked as nature intended.
As has been suggested, the boat you are getting may possibly have a bit of damage already and if you agree to a coating you will be paying for the remedial work yourself.
At best it sounds like the builder is looking for a bit of "added value" on the order.
 
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