Epoxy on clinker hull - remove or leave it????

[Laurin]

We have a Stella which had the clinker hull epoxied by the previous owner. This is now starting to flake away in some areas. Also we found some rot on one of the planks. So, we are now deliberating whether to remove the epoxy (wondering if the epoxy contributed to the rotten keel, perhaps trapping water and not letting the wood breathe?). So... should we remove it or not?.... and if so, should we scrape it off or use some gentle slurry blasting such as farrow system? (Farrow system appeals as I have bad skin and so my partner would have to do all the scraping). Any advice gratefully received.

 

[fluffc]

Is this epoxy 'sheathed' (with matting), or just had a coat of epoxy pasted on?

 

[Guest]

I sincerely hope it's neither /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Two pack paint??

 

[Poignard]

IMO: Definitely remove it. It's obviously trapping moisture and causing rot. Epoxy coating is only safe if you can apply it to every face of a piece of dry timber. You can't do that on an old boat unless you are prepared to completely dismantle it, then clean and dry each part. If you are going to do all that you may as well go the whole hog and build a new one! If epoxy is applied over joints and cracks it will fail because it is not as flexible as what you are coating with it.

Best just to use it as an adhesive only [for which it is first class] on dry timber, or for coating new construction, piece by piece.

How to remove it? Try a heat gun and scraper. It's obviously been applied by a botcher so it will probably come off fairly easily.

 

[Channel Ribs]

I share Smiffy's horror at the thought, but it could well be a thick layer of epoxy. Is there any chance of you posting a photo? This would help us advise as it is a very tricky situation you may have here.

Does it seem to be flakey enough for Farrow to blast it off cleanly, or will you be left with some die-hard sections that will take wood with them?

 

[Woodlouse]

Luckily Epoxy melts just lovely with a hot airgun. So hot airgun and a scraper and it'll come away in no time.

 

[Laurin]

Just spoken with cheif scraper and he confirms what I thought... it definitely doesn't have any matting and it's definitely epoxy not 2 part paint. Will have a go at scraping at the weekend if we aren't delivering a friend's new boat back home... will also try to remember to take photo's. Thanks for the advice so far.