epoxy putty

[cazzascotta]

hello, I was reading on February issue of Yachting Monthly that the owners of Chasamba saved their boat from sinking thanks to epoxy putty.
As I now want to "be ready", can anyone tell me wich brand and type is the best for an emergency?
Thanks
Antonello

 

[Gothik29]

I can't provide any advice on which brand is best, as I've never had to use one in emergency (touch wood). When I used to sail fibreglass catamarans, some people used to carry some putty with them just in case. I've tried mixing a short length of this for a non-boat repair and it seemed quite easy to use.

If you look at the following link, you'll see a product called Aqua Stick, which costs only £6.50. I can't recommend this, but at £6,50 it might be worth keeping a stick (or two) on board just in case. Any 'temporary' repair should be followed up with a permanent repair as soon as possible though......

http://www.sylmasta.com/acatalog/copy_of_Epoxy_Putty_Stick.html

 

[Gwylan]

If you look in Pound Stretcher type outlets they usually have some - seems to work, but not put to the dire emergency test

 

[DaveS]

Screwfix (and others) stock this sort of thing (various brands). Often cheaper if you buy > 6 or > 10 at a time. I keep a number of sticks on board (and in the car). Always useful.

One slight drawback is that if exposed to UV it discolours after a few weeks, but that's maybe an incentive to replace the top layer with a proper gelcoat repair...

 

[vyv_cox]

Here's one by Starbrite but there are many others. Some are two sticks to be mixed together, others have the two components in a single stick. They work well, set in 20 minutes or so even under water. One of the keel bolts on my son's new boat leaked when we collected the boat to deliver it home. A few dollops of epoxy stopped it, even working from inside.

 

[fishermantwo]

This stuff that comes as a stick with two colours is not really an epoxy. I used some a few years ago on my fishing vessel. The packing around the stem a few feet under the water had come out after some rough weather. I sat in the dinghy kneading up lengths of this stuff and passing it down to one of the deckhands. He forced it into the gap with timber wedges to get it right in. The idea being that a couple of weeks later when on the slips we would dig it out and do the job properly. Once on the slips it became obvious that this stuff had formed a bulge behind the plank and was never coming out. Smoothed out the job and its still there. I still carry a stick for emergency uses. The product I used was made by Selley's and is available in various formulas, copper, aluminium etc.

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

Really good stuff which is adhesive UNDERWATER is used for making aquarium displays. Its a two stick construction epoxyand is available from
www.d-daquariumsolutions.com ,tel:0120 8501 2492 at £3.99 a pack its good value.
A bolt on a sea cock was leaking and a lump of this two part epoxy did the trick.
(no commercial connection)

 

[vyv_cox]

<<< This stuff that comes as a stick with two colours is not really an epoxy. >>>

That's why Starbrite call it an epoxy stick, then?

 

[fishermantwo]

[ QUOTE ]
<<< This stuff that comes as a stick with two colours is not really an epoxy. >>>

That's why Starbrite call it an epoxy stick, then?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Selley's product is a polmer. Looks exactly the same as Starbrite product, even the instructions are near identical. Its been around for awhile now and I reckon it was even called an epoxy when it first came out. Truth in advertising perhaps!

 

[damo]

Epoxies ARE polymers!

 

[trouville]

NEVER use epoxy like that on a real boat!!!I had soft wood around a fitting due to bad earthing. That i packed with real putty,it dose dissolve at first when used below the waterline,but once you have enough in it will set.

Linseed oil putty and some copper plate are perfect for wood.Even worm can be "fixed" patch the hole and wait until they eat their way past then patch again!But by then you should have found an affordable place to haul and changed the plank!

Now i have grp ill try that epoxy stick under water just to see how it goes,dident fix my petroltank?

 

[chrishelen]

Halfords.