Epoxy Coating for Underwater Hull Any comments on this approach

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Slowboater33

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Hi All, I am currently avoiding the chaos of British winter in the Philippines and watching the boaty guys here they use an industrial epoxy two pack coating on the hulls, now these are mostly wooden/ply boats but this stuff seems to stick on well and last. (its actually on my steel roof here and been on for 15 years). Anyone ever attempted such use on a grp hull. The benefit is it works out about £13 quid a 4 litre can here (obviously UK price will be different) Any thoughts or crazy??
Secondly when i get back be looking for a stainless guy around Ipswich to alter my pushpit rail a little bit, Any suggestions welcome
Thx
 
Difficult to comment on such a product without having the data sheet! There are plenty of reliable epoxy coatings available in the UK at modest prices from major companies like Hempel, Jotun and International without having to go into unknown brands. Material cost is low in relation to effort (if DIY) or cost of professional to skimp on material cost.
 
Slowboater33 said:
Hi All, I am currently avoiding the chaos of British winter in the Philippines and watching the boaty guys here they use an industrial epoxy two pack coating on the hulls, now these are mostly wooden/ply boats but this stuff seems to stick on well and last. (its actually on my steel roof here and been on for 15 years). Anyone ever attempted such use on a grp hull. The benefit is it works out about £13 quid a 4 litre can here (obviously UK price will be different) Any thoughts or crazy??
Secondly when i get back be looking for a stainless guy around Ipswich to alter my pushpit rail a little bit, Any suggestions welcome
Thx
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What are you trying to achieve by applying this?
 
It was just a question about if its possible to use a non marine epoxy coating for the hull. Basically coz its a lot cheaper than for example VC tar by international 95 quid for 2.5 litres. Currently mine has Gelshield on it but needs a redo. Hence the question.
 
Slowboater33 said:
It was just a question about if its possible to use a non marine epoxy coating for the hull. Basically coz its a lot cheaper than for example VC tar by international 95 quid for 2.5 litres. Currently mine has Gelshield on it but needs a redo. Hence the question.
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"Industrial" is largely meaningless in this context. Many epoxies that are non leisure marine focussed are suitable for GRP hulls - you need to ask the manufacturer. For example I used a Hempel product primarily aimed at the commercial shipping and industrial market on my keel.

You seem to be assuming that you can buy the same product as you have seen for a "low" price in the UK. If that is the case then look at the data and application sheets as a start and then maybe talk to the supplier.

Epoxying the hull is a long term investment so does not seem sensible to use a off brand product to "save" a couple of hundred pounds.
 
Slowboater33 said:
Hi All, I am currently avoiding the chaos of British winter in the Philippines and watching the boaty guys here they use an industrial epoxy two pack coating on the hulls, now these are mostly wooden/ply boats but this stuff seems to stick on well and last. (its actually on my steel roof here and been on for 15 years). Anyone ever attempted such use on a grp hull. The benefit is it works out about £13 quid a 4 litre can here (obviously UK price will be different) Any thoughts or crazy??
Secondly when i get back be looking for a stainless guy around Ipswich to alter my pushpit rail a little bit, Any suggestions welcome
Thx
Click to expand...
Answering your second question Mr Stainless at SYH is outstanding but their prices are not Philippines prices. Also Fox's of course.
 
Back in the day, some boatyards would have you believe that drying your hull, grit-blasting it and applying several coats of epoxy was the best way to separate you from lots of your hard-earned cash treat the dreaded osmosis that would destroy your boat. Nowadays, most people have realised that osmosis isn't going to sink their boat and deal with the occasional blister when they can be bothered.
 
Stemar said:
Back in the day, some boatyards would have you believe that drying your hull, grit-blasting it and applying several coats of epoxy was the best way to separate you from lots of your hard-earned cash treat the dreaded osmosis that would destroy your boat. Nowadays, most people have realised that osmosis isn't going to sink their boat and deal with the occasional blister when they can be bothered.
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The OP says the boat already has epoxy coating but needs a "redo". Given the amount of work and/or cost of preparing it to a high enough standard to recoat in epoxy, maybe a good time to tthink about Coppercoat which is an epoxy and antifoul.
 
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