Repair & maintenance: Different makes of Epoxy

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Different makes of Epoxy

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13016
Printed Date: 26 Jun 25 at 1:32am
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Topic: Different makes of Epoxy

Posted By: Riv
Subject: Different makes of Epoxy
Date Posted: 14 Mar 18 at 7:53pm

I need to do some small repairs mainly the bottom to deck joint on my Alpha raceboard. Looking on Ebay I see a wide range of Epoxy resins, WEST and others that are half the price.

Does anyone know the difference? Is there a chemical difference between WEST epoxy and the others? Some are sold as UV resistant, does this mean they don't have to be varnished or you can use them as a varnish?

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Mistral Div II prototype board, Original Windsurfer, Hornet built'74.

Replies:

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 14 Mar 18 at 8:37pm

No idea on the chemical differences, but some are certainly harder than others when cured. Recently used the one from Swindon Watersports, which is clear, and worked well.

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 14 Mar 18 at 9:17pm

For the amount you'll need I'd buy West or SP Systems. Use microfibres to make a paste and the repair will be the strongest bit of the board.

I repaired a very badly damaged Mistral Superlight (it had been in the shore break under the pier somewhere on the South Coast and was an insurance right off I bought from the insurers. 13 holes from a fews mm to the full width of the board a foot from the nose, almost the full depth too), I went on to race it with some success at club and regional events for a few years until Div 1 morphed into Raceboard and it was no longer competitive.

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

Posted By: Riv
Date Posted: 15 Mar 18 at 10:24am

Thanks for the tips, my board has split along the seam for about a foot close to the front so I'm going to push the bits together using a wooden fixture and then laminate some glass tape over the joint. Lots if holes to fill as well. I saw the swindon epoxy, glad to know it works.

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Mistral Div II prototype board, Original Windsurfer, Hornet built'74.

Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 15 Mar 18 at 5:10pm

that should work but it might look neater if you split the deck and hull skins and fill the gap with epoxy and microfibres, close up and clean off the excess allowing a little to remain as a small patch. If the skin of the board is ABS over a glass core an external patch may not stick. I can't really remember clearly but I think Alpha used both ABS and epoxy in their boards, obviously not sure about yours.

Oh and make sure it's properly dry inside or you'll be looking at delaminating heaven......

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

Posted By: Wiclif
Date Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 5:23pm

If it is an Alpha 220PR and you expose the core then you must use epoxy.

I must stress that I am not a repair expert but my favoured method would be to open the split and use a piece of woven tape pre wetted with epoxy and push in beteeen the foam and the skin both on the hull and deck. Then tape (pvc or parcel tape) over the seam, keep it closed with roof rack straps and position the board so that the repair is at the low point so that any excess epoxy would want to drain out at the repair. ( but you are stopping that with your sticky tape) In other words you are trying to get your bond between the deck and the hull skin with your repair. Contact with the foam is incidental.

As Sam says, make sure the repair area is dry. If not, then it would be worthwhile rinsing it in fresh water and allowing to dry first. Also mask off all around your repair area before starting

Posted By: Riv
Date Posted: 19 Mar 18 at 7:57pm

Thanks, it is an Alpha 220 Pro Race, been hanging up in the warm and dry for a year so no problems there. The reason I'm thinking of reinforcing the outside is that there is a fair bit of dirt inside the split and I don't know whether I can clean it enough to make it all stick reliably.

Do you know what it is all made of. Little info on the web.

Thanks

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Mistral Div II prototype board, Original Windsurfer, Hornet built'74.

Posted By: Pastyman
Date Posted: 20 Mar 18 at 10:29am

Tha Alpha 220PR was made of Epoxy resin over a dual foam core
Part of the core is EPS the other part polyurethane foam
No ABS used as a shell , the boards were finished in a mould with the epoxy resin put under pressure