Boating How-To’s - West System Epoxy

Not interested in a discussion about cost or bashing West.

But, I live way out in the boonies, a local shop stocks West Epoxy and Hardener. So I can take a 3 mile drive and buy.

I have a bunch of screw holes and minor damage to repair on my 21 Mako, thinking about using West Epoxy as it is avaliable.

I think West would work just fine. This is the slow cure epoxy. I will be using woven cloth as a backer under the screw holes, then plugging with a mixture of the epoxy and chopped glass, which I have a supply of. Boat will be repainted after all the repairs are complete.

Comments?

I have always like west system, and with the fillers they have you can do almost anything with it.
Only down fall is it does not like gelcoat If you are going to paint that is no big deal

The other problem is epoxy of any kind, does not break gown the binder in 90% of the mats used. Stitch mat with out binder is best for epoxy. I can make gel coat stick on any epoxy. Non blushing epoxies are best tho. We dont bash epoxy here. we recommend an improvement because some of us started out using west system 30+ years ago when there was not hardly any choices.

We've been using various epoxies for 30+ years now. Different epoxies for different jobs but when you get right down to it W.E.S.T is the most versatile and user friendly one out there. A high percentage of the work has to be gel coat finished and W.E.S.T. is by far the best one for this. Just scrub the finished epoxy repair with water (not acetone, not alcohol) to remove the amine blush and you'll be fine. And as Bly pointed out, most mat (CSM) has a styrene soluble binder holding it together and since there is no styrene in epoxy, the binder becomes a contaminate. If the glass has a milky white tinge to it when wet out, don't use it. You'll also find that W.E.S.T. has an incredibly helpful staff that's just a phone call away.

I am in the process of using the West filler on my skiff now. Really easy to use... Do yourself a favor and spend the 10 bucks to get the hand pumps so you dont have to measure. Makes things a lot easier.

I used a number of different epoxies over the years, but I've never heard anyone bash West... they make a great product. I think the only downside is the price, but you definitely get what you pay for... it's a great product with a solid company behind it.

Good luck with your project.

I am in the process of using the West filler on my skiff now. Really easy to use... Do yourself a favor and spend the 10 bucks to get the hand pumps so you dont have to measure. Makes things a lot easier.

The shop has the hand pumps, they are on the shopping list.

We've been using various epoxies for 30+ years now. Different epoxies for different jobs but when you get right down to it W.E.S.T is the most versatile and user friendly one out there. A high percentage of the work has to be gel coat finished and W.E.S.T. is by far the best one for this. Just scrub the finished epoxy repair with water (not acetone, not alcohol) to remove the amine blush and you'll be fine. And as Bly pointed out, most mat (CSM) has a styrene soluble binder holding it together and since there is no styrene in epoxy, the binder becomes a contaminate. If the glass has a milky white tinge to it when wet out, don't use it. You'll also find that W.E.S.T. has an incredibly helpful staff that's just a phone call away.

I will be using woven cloth, any recommendations? Don't think it has the binder as in matt.

I looked at the West site, lots of good info there.

I will be using woven cloth, any recommendations? Don't think it has the binder as in matt.

I looked at the West site, lots of good info there.

Just for use as a backer, you can use pretty much any woven cloth without matt.....6oz, 9oz, etc...we're talking screw holes here, that will be filled with thickened resin.

Their G Flex Epoxy works great. Its a 1:1 ratio. Super Easy.

http://static.altrec.com/images/shop/detail/swatches/NRS/8.54271_d.jpg

I would think to use epoxy and filler for screw holes. Mix to a peanut butter consistency. More than anything, I would call the West System company for their recommendation. They are very helpful.

West system prouduts are good . the six10 would be great for what your doing .

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/six10-thickened-epoxy-adhesive

Not interested in a discussion about cost or bashing West.

But, I live way out in the boonies, a local shop stocks West Epoxy and Hardener. So I can take a 3 mile drive and buy.

I have a bunch of screw holes and minor damage to repair on my 21 Mako, thinking about using West Epoxy as it is avaliable.

I think West would work just fine. This is the slow cure epoxy. I will be using woven cloth as a backer under the screw holes, then plugging with a mixture of the epoxy and chopped glass, which I have a supply of. Boat will be repainted after all the repairs are complete.

Comments?

just did all that on the kenner. see kenner 23v restore. get the quart of resin, 207 hardener, that is clear and slow. get the mini pumps also. and the canister of filler. there are several to choose from. get the plastic stirrers and syringes. with some cloth you can fix anything. you can you the epoxy with the clear to fix chit around the house too. picture frames, plastic stuff, etc. I bought their book for $6 but you can get it on line.

If your screw holes are smaller then 1/4-20, you'll drive your self nuts trying to push single shards of glass in there. Pick up some 404, and get a decent syringe, put the backing piece on, let it tack up nice with standard mix. Then make a batch with 404, inject it into the hole with syringe.

Open the holes with a counter-sink bit - that way the surrounding wood can dry out and you can get the mat in there.

I just got finished using West Systems Epoxy,an I only have GOOD things to say @ it.But I only used it to bond Stringers together,an bond Stringers to Hull..GREAT product in My book...