When Igor Marukha wanted to fulfil his ambition of building his own canoe, he didn’t take to the water – but to the internet. Today, he runs his own successful boat building company, NeoBoat, and WEST SYSTEM® epoxy products are never far from hand. Boat building, like most things, has been transformed by the internet. ... Starting a canoe business – by surfing the web More
David Johnson urges people new to epoxy to attend WSI’s Epoxy Workshop course. Or, at the very least, to read the manual. If you ever read a technical computer forum you may have seen the acronym ‘RTM!’ being used to pass comment on people who have asked a particularly basic question. It stands for ‘Read ... The best way to avoid mistakes when using epoxy More
Bailey Boat Cat is a life jacket wearing, sea breeze loving Siamese cat – who blogs about his life cruising around the Italian coast. It seems that Bailey’s family have been working on multiple projects to renovate their vessel to ensure it’s ready for cruising safely and comfortably. He recently blogged about his ‘dad’s’ love ... Bailey Boat Cat: an unusual epoxy user More
How to thin your epoxy and what to consider before you do Reducing the viscosity of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy by adding a solvent, can be tempting. It becomes easier to roll out; it penetrates more deeply into porous surfaces such as partially rotten wood; and it saturates faster into materials like fibreglass fabric. But – ... TRADE SECRET: Thinning epoxy: Best practice guidance for reducing the viscosity of WEST SYSTEM epoxy More
WEST SYSTEM® epoxy is an invaluable resource for creating a clear coating that showcases both the beauty of the wood grain and gives you four times the thickness of a single coat of polyurethane. In just a few simple steps, you can achieve a beautiful, bubble-free wooden surface using epoxy resin. Bubbles are a frustrating ... TRADE SECRET: How to create the perfect epoxy coating on wood More
Winter is a time when many boaters migrate away from the water and into the workshop or boat shed in order to repair their vessels or even to build their next ones. If you’re one of these people and you are using marine epoxy, you will most likely know that it’s very sensitive to temperature ... Marine epoxy in cold weather More
Smoothing edges and removing unwanted irregularities are the final steps to giving your boat a perfect finish. A cabinet scraper is the perfect tool for the job, as it will remove all traces of irregularities from the surface of an epoxy resin coating. What’s more, a cabinet scraper is quick and relatively simple to make ... TRADE SECRET: How to make and use a scraper on epoxy resin More
According to Kurt Hughes, a lack of cash does not need to be the end of the road when it comes to building your dream boat. In fact, he insists you can get more boat for your money by building a plywood and epoxy model instead of a composite one. The multihull designer says you ... Build a boat without breaking the bank using plywood and epoxy More
Powerboat driver Bob McCarthy explains why epoxy is now his only choice – whether he’s racing his Formula 3 Bernico in Offshore circuit Racing or breaking water-speed records. People often ask me what the experience of racing powerboats is like. I’ve been doing it for 25 years and I’m still not sure I really know ... Stronger, lighter, faster – using epoxy for powerboats. More
Top tips for installing teak decking panels using PRO-SET® ADV 170 Adhesive and utilising vacuum bagging techniques. Modern prefabricated teak decking panels are manufactured from accurate jigs that allow speedy, clean, final fit installation at the production boat manufacturers. PRO-SET ADV 170 Adhesive is a highly developed thickened, easy to use, 1:1 mix epoxy adhesive that is ... TRADE SECRET: Installing teak decking panels using vacuum bagging More
Business and life partners, Simon and Cat Holman, began their artisan fishing business by designing and building Kensa, an unpowered fishing boat. With Kensa complete, and an integral part of the business, we speak to the couple about their venture and the creation of Kensa. Firstly, tell us about yourselves. Cat: Simon began his career ... Starting an artisan fishing business by Simon and Cat Holman More
Known for his superior knowledge and technique with epoxy, carbon and fibreglass, Russell Brown explains why he’s sticking to WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy in his latest blog post found on ‘Ports Townsend Watercraft Blog’. Russell has over 40 years of experience with boat building and repairs. He has sampled many different brands of epoxy, but insists ... We ‘stick’ with epoxy More
Norman Ralph, writer of ‘Tanks a lot, part 3’, taken from ‘Good Old Boat’ magazine explains how he repaired the diesel tank of his boat ‘Bluebonnet’ using WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. Marine epoxy can cure numerous elements of your boat to prolong its life on the water. Norman is a loyal WEST SYSTEM epoxy user and it ... The epoxy ‘Cure’ More
Prevention is the best solution to keeping your boat healthy and on the water, according to the writers and boat fanatics at ‘Compass Marine how to’. Every boat has a ‘core’ that is in danger of becoming saturated and eventually rotting. Preventing this happening with the help of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy can hold your vessels ... Preventing core rot with WEST SYSTEM Epoxy More
Michigan based, sailing enthusiast and writer of ‘my2fish’ blog, shares his process on repairing wooden components of his three boats using WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy. Restoring the wooden parts of all three of his boats, two Sunfish and one Super Porpoise, the blog post follows the wooden boat repairs of two sunfish rudders and one daggerboard. The ... Sailing enthusiast trusts epoxy for his wooden boat repairs More
The creators of the Ocean Explorer C-60 catamaran value quality above all else – and PRO-SET® epoxy products play a central part in their vision. Peter Granholm was visiting a shipping interiors company in his native Finland recently when a poster caught his eye. “It was a quote from Benjamin Franklin,” he says. “’The bitterness ... “If you want top quality, epoxy is a no-brainer.” More
WEST SYSTEM G/flex® speciality epoxy is an exceptionally strong epoxy, designed to provide unbeatable grip to plastics, glass, masonry, fibreglass, wood and metals – including aluminium. So if your aluminium boat is in need of a little TLC, G/flex is a very wise investment. As well as effectively repairing leaky rivets and seams, it creates ... TRADE SECRET: How to fix a leaking aluminium boat with epoxy More
Sustainable living is the future. This pair of boat-builders, Simon and Cat Holman, wanted to live sustainably by fishing locally, after hand-crafting their very own boat. Simon and Cat showed that not only is it achievable, it is also feasible even with a limited space – provided the right materials are available. By using epoxy ... Building a sustainable future: hand-crafting your very own boat More
By keeping these simple ideas in mind, you can make your work with epoxy resin as straightforward and reliable as possible. Prepare to succeed Before you begin using any WEST SYSTEM® epoxy products, ensure your workshop is clean, dry and free from dust. The ideal temperature is 20-22°C, which means you should feel comfortable wearing a ... Four expert tips to use epoxy resin effectively More
John Rousemaniere once said “the goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself”. This is exactly what Mat Gravener has done, performing a wooden boat repair and restoration on his 1940’s Broads Cruising Yacht the ‘Lady Perfect 9’ to her eloquently named former self. Using WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy, Mat ... Wooden boat repair – helping the boat to save herself More
By keeping these four kitchen cupboard favourites in mind, you’ll ensure your thickened epoxy is the right consistency, every time. Thickened epoxy – a mix of resin and hardener with filler added – has a huge range of uses. By varying the amount of filler you use, you can alter the consistency of the epoxy ... What have peanut butter, ketchup, syrup and mayonnaise got to do with epoxy resin? More
Sam Collins has been working hard to achieve his vision of ‘Karen,’ the perfect boat. Currently under construction, Sam is building an 18’ Alden Sloop, which is strip planked in western red cedar. When completed, she will have cold-moulded khaya outer veneers. We took a look at how the project is going so far. Firstly, ... Using epoxy to build the perfect boat — by Sam Collins More
Set up in 2012, Boatwork Ltd is run by married team Mark and Julie Bestford with help from their mascot and canine companion Hassle. The company focuses on the management, maintenance and repair of their various clients’ boats. Recently tasked with a wooden boat repair which involved replacing a GRP sheathing with an epoxy one ... The wooden boat repair and renovation — by Boatwork Ltd. More
Marine epoxy is a thoroughly useful material to have with you not just in the boatyard but out to sea as well. It can fulfil any number of purposes when you’re out and about, including small repairs and filling. Sailing Today have recently run a feature on how to go about choosing the most suitable epoxy for ... 6 things to think about when buying marine epoxy More
Willie Crear has been a boatbuilder and racer for over 50 years. Find out why he uses PRO-SET® epoxy on his projects as opposed to cheap polyester resin on his website. And see more about his I-20 and M-20 builds. Why Epoxy Resin, not Polyester? – Willie Crear, boatbuilder More
Fibreglass boat repair, the ultimate challenge for WEST SYSTEM epoxy, can it bond them closer together? This Rhode Island couple’s new GRP boat-building project is the ultimate challenge for any relationship. Follow them as they talk through all the trials and tribulations of fixing up a 1967 Pearson Ariel fibreglass boat. From avoiding boat-pox and removing a rudder to scraping ... Fibreglass boat repair – from scraping paint to naming More
This week’s featured project from an epoxycraft reader comes from boatbuilder Gary Thompson, who’s based in Romsey. His Herreshoff Haven 12 ½, called Lashanna, took him months to build. We caught up with Gary to find out how he did it. How did the project come about? The project came about during my year at Lyme Regis ... My Herreshoff 12 ½ day sailing boat with WEST SYSTEM epoxy More
WEST SYSTEM Six10® epoxy is conveniently stored in a self-metering cartridge, providing permanent, waterproof results for all your adhesive needs – from filling holes and cracks, to bonding fiberglass and metal. Check out this video for more information and yet more reasons why WEST SYSTEM epoxy products could be right for you. Got a question about basic boat repairs? ... Using WEST SYSTEM Six10 Thickened Epoxy Adhesive More
If you need to lay up a fibreglass canoe hole, the WEST SYSTEM® Vacuum Bag demonstration in this short two-minute video will offer you a viable solution. Our technical advisers briefly run through the materials you will need, and how to go about this fibreglass boat repair. You’ll be paddling your canoe again in no time! ... Fibreglass boat repair – fixing a hole in your canoe More
You would think that bonding plastics together would be impossible, but using WEST SYSTEM® G/flex® Thickened Epoxy Resin and Hardener proves that you can. The epoxies provide permanent waterproof results, using a simply one-to-one mix ratio, making it easy for even the least confident user. The strength of the WEST SYSTEM epoxy products is second to ... G/flex epoxy: we put it to the test More
It’s really quite tricky to find naturally occurring turns these days, where the grain is the shape you need to make a knee, or breasthook. But never fear! Richard Toyne at Classic Boat has explained how you can manufacture your own knee by bending thin layers of wood to the right shape and gluing them together ... TRADE SECRET Laminate a knee using marine epoxy More
Are you about to start fairing a hull? It may seem like a daunting task but there are ways of making the process run more smoothly – and achieve a great smooth finish. Before using fairing boards for final faring, why not try working with a grinding device? It will remove a substantial amount of material very ... TRADE SECRET: Top tips for easy sanding with WEST SYSTEM epoxy More
Would you like to protect your wooden boat from damage caused by the salt and moisture in the air? Brenda Priddy at eHow has posted a simple six-step process for sealing wood using WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. See what she had to say here: How to Seal Wood With West System Epoxy | eHow. More
Enavigo is a Croatian company from Virovitica specialised in building wooden boats using PRO-SET® epoxy. After completing two great projects, Enavigo Cutter and Enavigo K850, patience and persistence was crucial in the struggle with the economic crisis. But then, a new project suddenly came up – a challenge that the owner of Enavigo, Tomislav Matasić, couldn’t refuse… ... Building a composite racer in six months with marine epoxy: photo report More
Even without steam, wood can be remarkably flexible – and, indeed, just the job for installing a nice new teak cap rail on a yacht. This wooden boat repair can be a tricky process. Bending the wood can cause it to break or splinter at stress points. Luckily, Richard Toyne at Classic Boat has written some advice ... TRADE SECRET Wooden boat repair – how to install a new teak cap rail More
Have you always wanted to build your own skimboard but don’t know where to start? Even if you have chosen the materials for your project, the next step to actually building a skimboard can be daunting. But don’t worry – we are here to help! This video will show you how to construct a carbon ... Want to build your own skimboard? With epoxy you can! More
So, with a crash of champagne on her imaginary hull, we’re delighted to be launching epoxycraft – a brand-new website for anyone who uses marine epoxy. It’s an online, interactive magazine full of marine epoxy news, ideas, techniques and projects from around the world. The site is sponsored by West System International, the home of WEST SYSTEM® and ... epoxycraft sets sail: the launch of our new marine epoxy site More
Joe Latimer and Alex Lyddon have been working together to build the boat of their dreams – now they are nearing completion, we catch up with them to find more out about the experience, and any problems they may have encountered along the way. Firstly, tell us a little about yourself. Joe: I’m a postgraduate ... Building the dream boat with epoxy – by Joe Latimer and Alex Lyddon More
Despite being connected to the industry, it’s only recently that Stuart McGowan decided to leave his job as an engineer in order to develop his skills as a boat builder. Joining the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy has given Stuart this chance to take his career down a new route. Firstly, tell us a little about ... New beginnings: starting again as a boat builder More
Getting rid of PRO-SET® and WEST SYSTEM® epoxy resin is straightforward if you follow these simple guidelines (and if you waste as little as possible in the first place…) Not having to dispose of epoxy is easier than having to dispose of epoxy – so it’s always a good idea to try and minimise waste while ... TRADE SECRET: How to dispose of epoxy resin safely More
For Nigel Chapman, getting into boat-building was an opportunity for a fresh start in his career. We caught up with him to find out how he’s found the experience of working on a build from scratch for the very first time. Firstly, tell us a little about yourself. I have been working for almost 30 years ... It’s never too late to change career – a fresh start with WEST SYSTEM epoxy More
Production Director Dave Skene of Solution Motor Cruisers is currently building a 60ft powerboat, known as the Solution60, conceived by Ray Davis and world-leading yacht designer Bill Dixon. Modern composite production techniques – including constructing the hull using epoxy infusion methods – have shaped his whole approach to this substantial project. “I consider myself a modern ... Epoxy infusion on a grand scale: “We decided to go with a fully epoxy boat.” More
Following a period of ill health and a realization that ‘you only live once’ Keith McIlwain decided that he needed a change in direction in his career. The Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis gave Keith the skills and confidence he needed to build ‘Daydream,’ his 20’” Golant Ketch, using epoxy resin. How did the ... Building my ‘Daydream’ with epoxy resin – by Keith McIlwain More
So you’ve just pulled your boat from the water, only you’ve noticed blisters in your gelcoat. Now if you leave it, they may disappear, right? Wrong. If you ignore the damage then it could mean greater trials further down the line. That could mean a massive overhaul of your hull… gelcoat removal… a full-blown barrier coat ... TRADE SECRET: Fibreglass boat repair: fix gelcoat blisters with Six10 epoxy More
Defending wood from water penetration is key to making a wooden boat look smart for longer. Coating with marine epoxy, is a great strategy for waterproofing surfaces and preventing wood rot. But there are some potential weak points in your structure’s epoxy armour that many people forget to sort out. Screw holes, even if coated ... TRADE SECRET: Why sealing screw holes with marine epoxy is vital to protecting your wooden boat More
When it comes to preparing a surface for epoxy application, the best advice is to follow the mantra cleanliness is next to godliness. If your surface isn’t clean before you begin, you’ll be making life harder for yourself in the long run as contamination actually reduces the adhesive power of epoxy. To ensure your epoxy ... TRADE SECRET: Why keeping surfaces clean makes for a strong epoxy bond More
Everyone likes the appeal of a well-varnished wood trim on boats. But these days world, waiting two weeks for the twelve layers of varnish to dry just isn’t feasible. In the UK, that’s pretty much the whole summer! But, never fear there’s a way you can still spend your summer out on the water in ... TRADE SECRET: Achieve a well-varnished wood trim in half the time with epoxy resin More
If you need strength and adhesion in a hurry, or if you’re worried about mixing epoxy accurately or don’t have the right tools to hand, WEST SYSTEM® Six10® pre-mixed adhesive could be the trade secret you’re looking for. Six10 is a two-part, pre-thickened epoxy adhesive, perfect for stitch-and-glue boat construction, fibreglass laminate repair and general ... TRADE SECRET: How pre-mixed epoxy can help you work fast without compromising quality More
Not sure whether epoxy has what it takes to fix your fibreglass boat? “It’s versatile, strong, reliable – and more than a match for polyester resin”, says Hamish Cook, Technical Guru at Epoxycraft. Fibreglass boats – like all boats – get damaged. It’s inevitable. Collisions and groundings cause everything from small nicks to serious structural ... Six reasons for using epoxy in fibreglass boat repairs More
Hamish Cook, Technical Adviser at West System International, explains why two-step bonding should be your first choice for structural strength. Two-step bonding is a straightforward process. You wet out the surfaces you want to join using a mix of resin and hardener – that’s step one. Then you add filler to the mix and use this ... Five reasons why two-step bonding with marine epoxy creates a better joint More
If you suspect that a seam or rivet is leaking on your aluminium boat, try following the simple seven-stage process demonstrated in this video. It could have you back on the water within a couple of hours! All you’ll need is a heat source, a wire brush and an epoxy repair pack. Something like the WEST SYSTEM® 655-K ... Got a leak in your aluminium boat? It’s a quick fix with G/flex epoxy More
Don’t panic! It’s easily done and, thankfully, pretty easy to fix too. Follow the 11 steps in this video to see how you can use the WEST SYSTEM® 406 Colloidal Silica epoxy and several patches of reinforcing fabric cut to size to fill in holes in a fibreglass boat. Once you’ve painted it or applied ... What to do when you get a hole in a fibreglass boat More
How do you stop the mattress on your boat from getting mouldy and damp? Strategically placed ventilation holes in the plywood bunk bases have long been used a strategy for preventing this. But, before long, the veneer on the plywood often starts to split. Classic Boat has run a feature on how you can guard ... TRADE SECRET: Prevent plywood from splitting with coats of epoxy resin More
In this 8-page article on Sailing Today, our very own David Johnson shows that laminating using vacuum bagging is well within the reach of the reasonably skilled DIY’er. Starting with a second-hand laminated wooden centreboard from a Fireball dinghy, David uses the vacuum bagging process to create a strong rudder blade for a Swift 18. He ... Vacuum bagging made simple with WEST SYSTEM epoxy More
The chance to fix up a 7-tonne 1935 bermudan sloop designed by Dr T Harrison Butler doesn’t come around very often – only five are known to have survived. But, despite the fact that Mischief had been laid up for 20 years and required extensive work both inside and out, former design and technology teacher Roy ... Saving a 1935 Harrison Butler sloop with epoxy resin More
The components are assembled, the joint is bonded… what’s the next stage of your wooden boat repair? Before moving on to final finishing, don’t forget to apply a protective barrier coat to your wooden surfaces. Doing so will provide an effective moisture barrier and a smooth base for final finishing. Your WEST SYSTEM® Roller Covers ... Wooden boat repair: the basics of barrier coating More
Sometime after the fairing and shaping stage of you epoxy boat repair, but before final coating, it might be an idea to give the joints in your structure extra reinforcement and abrasion resistance by applying glass cloth. WEST SYSTEM® reinforcing fabrics are specially designed to do this and can be applied in multiple layers, or ‘laminated’ ... Epoxy boat repair: Protecting joints with reinforcing fabrics – it’s all in the layers More
The demonstration shows how to improve the strength and reliability of any joint by efficiently installing a screw using WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. Some joints need to be able to carry a heavy load and the last thing you want is them letting you down at a crucial point in the race or miles away from the ... Two minute tutorial gives top tips for epoxy fastener bonding More
The bonding stage is where your project will really start to come together. A combination of good surface preparation and the right adhesive will help make a joint strong. The so-called ‘two-step bonding’ process is the best bonding technique to use in most situations. That’s because it makes the epoxy penetrate the bonding surface to the ... Making a joint is easy with two-step epoxy bonding More
So, you’ve got your joint pretty much assembled. Now you need to make sure it blends with the surrounding surfaces. This is where final fairing and the epoxy filler comes in. A mixture of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy and a low-density filler is just the job for fairing. It involves filling and shaping low or uneven areas so they ... Got a gap to fill? See how in this WEST SYSTEM fairing demo More
Have you already dispensed and mixed your epoxy and are now ready to start bonding or fairing? Watch our video to find out how to add epoxy fillers to get the ideal epoxy consistency for your purpose. The video also shows you examples of the four main consistencies of thickened epoxy and the applications each is suited ... How to thicken epoxy with epoxy fillers More
Whether you’re using large amounts of epoxy or small, getting the right ratio of resin to hardener is vital to ensuring a proper cure. Though it is possible to dispense epoxy using weight or volume measures, you might find it easier and more convenient to use the specially-calibrated WEST SYSTEM® 303 special ratio Mini Pump ... Easy dispensing with WEST SYSTEM Mini Pumps More
It’s lightweight, stiff and resistant to fatigue but, when subjected to rot, wood can lose strength, weakening the overall boat. Nexus Marine use WEST SYSTEM® epoxy coating on their wooden boats to keep the moisture out. Learn why they find epoxy useful for adhesive, coating, filleting and many more applications here: WEST SYSTEM epoxy and our wood/epoxy ... WEST SYSTEM epoxy for stronger, stiffer, rot-free wooden boats More
Ever wondered what goes into making a sport boat? Here’s how WEST SYSTEM® epoxy inventors Jan and Meade Gougeon and their team of Technical Experts did it. All in all it took about 700 hours of work but, we’re guessing you don’t have that kind of time to spare. Instead, take the short-cut and watch this ... From plank of wood to i550 Sport Boat in 3 minutes using marine epoxy More
What’s the right way to apply fibreglass cloth or tape to provide reinforcement and abrasion resistance? This video shows how fabric and coats of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy are used to fill the weave of the fabric in one continuous operation. Ready to try it at home? Click here to find your nearest stockist. More
Before every epoxy application comes the crucial step of dispensing the quantities of resin and hardener you need. Getting this right will mean you’re well on the way to achieving a high-strength WEST SYSTEM® epoxy solid. Remember, curing epoxy generates heat so be sure not to leave the dispensed epoxy to stand for the full pot life ... Getting started: dispensing and mixing WEST SYSTEM epoxy More
Did you enjoy our i550 build time-lapse video? Well, here she is in action with Bill Wright during preparations for the Everglades Challenge – building a wooden boat using epoxy. Check out Bill’s YouTube channel for more updates on Hot Canary. Not bad for 3 minutes’ work, eh? More
West System Inc. is delighted to be exhibiting at the 23rd Annual WoodenBoat Show at Mystic, Connecticut on 27-29 June 2014. So, if you find yourself across the pond next month, make your way there for expert skills demonstrations, live racing, craft workshops and special events about Herreshoff classic designs. Find out more on their ... West System Inc. to exhibit at the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic, CT More
Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. I’m sure we’re all guilty of making do with the wrong tool when the right one has gone walkabout. You know, knocking in nails with the end of the spirit level, that sort of thing. Actually, though, some tools you’ll have lying around the workshop could actually be very ... TRADE SECRET: 6 workshop uses for razor blades you’ll want to try More