When to re-epoxy

[Piers]

May I seek the collective wisdom of the forum?

I am being told that I should re-epoxy every 5 years. That's apparently the limit on epoxy that manufacturers give. Is this really true?

 

[Trundlebug]

News to me!
I thought once the hull was epoxied, it was done.

Ours was done well before we bought it, and we've had it 10 years, no problems at all...
(VC Tar)

 

[Plum]

May I seek the collective wisdom of the forum?

I am being told that I should re-epoxy every 5 years. That's apparently the limit on epoxy that manufacturers give. Is this really true?

I assume you are refering to your underwater surfaces. I have never heard of that before. The epoxy does not deteriorate when protected from sunlight. GRP hulls without epoxy coating will in almost every case have a polyester gellcoat. No one has ever said the gellcoat should be re-applied every 5 years (unless of course in the few cases where osmoses has started and needs treating) and epoxy is much more durable than polyester. Just re-antifoul and keep sailing.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[longjohnsilver]

New one on me, also. It is March 1st and not April 1st?

 

[vas]

a bit more info would be helpful!

epoxy under the Med sun wont last 2yrs (tried and tested...)
if we are talking underwater with a/f on top, I don't see any problem unless for some reason it is mechanically damaged.

cheers

V.

 

[IDAMAY]

Piers,

I think you should only have to do this if the epoxy is damaged, as for example it might be if you slurried off old anti foul paint. I had to do it on the Trader 42 when some cowboy outfit removed hald the epoxy with the anti foul!

Richard.

 

[Medskipper]

Hi Piers,
I had my Birchwood 37 gelshielded and was told it was good for ten years!
in fact I kept the boat for fifteen years and when I sold it the shield was deteriorating, some tiny blisters were appearing which was osmosis, but not in the hull, but between the shield and the hull. When cleaned off it was clear to me the hull itself was still perfect with no osmosis!
So if Gelshield was used you should get at least ten years.

 

[Piers]

Thanks for the replies. Our surveyor has advised that no manufacturer will warrant their epoxy for more than 5 years. Hence, to stay inside this, boats should be re-epoxied every 5 years. However, he adds a caveat that if applied correctly it should last 10 years, albeit there could be risk in so doing.

I must say this took us by surprise. I always thought that once epoxied the boat was secure provided the coating wasn't damaged. Ah well, one never stops learning.

Piers

 

[longjohnsilver]

Thanks for the replies. Our surveyor has advised that no manufacturer will warrant their epoxy for more than 5 years. Hence, to stay inside this, boats should be re-epoxied every 5 years. However, he adds a caveat that if applied correctly it should last 10 years, albeit there could be risk in so doing.

I must say this took us by surprise. I always thought that once epoxied the boat was secure provided the coating wasn't damaged. Ah well, one never stops learning.

Piers

I'd be surprised if any manufacturer even warrants an epoxy coating for 5 years as so much depends on when and how it was applied. However I owould certainly have no worries about epoxy lasting at least 10 years.

 

[PCUK]

I had my last steel boat for 28 years. She was epoxied from new and never recoated other than touching in damaged areas. Never any rust or other problems in all that time.