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Projects
Building a Stornoway 16 – Part 2
Making the cedar strips and mast As mentioned in part one of this series, to build the ideal boat with which to join the Dinghy Cruising Association, retired land surveyor Steve Goodchild bought the plans from designer Paul Fisher and assembled the ‘strongback’ jig on which ‘Barnacle’s’ hull would be laid up. He then attended ... More
Come and see our ‘how to use epoxy’ demonstrations, at the RYA Dinghy Show
We’re offering free repair demonstrations on our stand C2 (Hall Three) at the RYA Dinghy Show, Alexandra Palace, 29th Feb to 1st March 2020. For racers and enthusiasts, for those with wooden or composite boats, epoxy provides a straightforward and effective way to make DIY minor repairs. A such the demonstrations offer expert advice about fixing all-to-common problems from a season’s bumps and ... More
The Diamond Tesseract Prism Flux Capacitor
Nick Zammeti is a woodturner, artist and maker of all sorts of fantastic creations. He’s been working with Entropy Resins® for a while as he says it’s so much better for the environment than other epoxies. We agree! In this video he makes a Tesseract Flux Capacitor, inspired by Back to the Future. More
The stuff that AC75s are made of
In the high speed, high stress world of the America’s Cup, keeping the beast in one piece is clearly a big challenge, reports Matt Sheahan in Seahorse Magazine. Structural attachments that require an adhesive bond need a strong yet toughened epoxy adhesive to transmit loads between components. Achieving both strength and toughness can be tricky. PRO-SET® ... More
Steve Goodchild explains how to build a wooden dinghy (Stornoway 16)
In part one of this series of how to build a wooden dinghy Steve Goodchild takes us through choosing a design, and making a jig for his Stornoway 16. “I’m essentially a fair–weather sailor,” says retired land surveyor Steve Goodchild. “The trouble is, the weather doesn’t seem to know that.” Nevertheless he decided to combine his two passions of wood working and sailing and build ... More
SARAH CONWAY uses bio-based epoxy to make coasters and art flower blooms
From her garage in Bedfordshire, Sarah Conway has discovered that ENTROPY RESINS® products are the best epoxy for coasters and all the other stunning art creations she produces. With an online following of 25K plus, Sarah’s epoxy pours with alcohol ink are shipping through Europe and to places as far off as Alaska, Australia and New ... More
Using epoxy to glue wood – the ‘Eat a Peach’ guitar
James Macdonald created this beautiful guitar in Maine. Here he writes of the journey he’s been on to bring this project to life, and how he used epoxy to glue wood. In the early days of my woodworking career, beginning in 1981, I spent time as a boatbuilder at Wood Boats, a restoration yard in ... More
Epoxy presents for sailors
If you’re looking for presents for sailors, take inspiration from George Isted’s recent win (pictured with Hamish Cook). He’s giving some of this mega-bundle of epoxy goodies as gifts; sharing the epoxy magic as Christmas presents for sailors in his life. Epoxy presents for sailors include: Glass fibre boat repair kits (WEST SYSTEM 105-K Glass ... More
Marine grade, high-quality epoxy for catamaran builds like Cheetah Marine
Cheetah Marine’s porotype catamaran was built in 1989 on the Isle of Wight. Founder, Sean Strevens, built her with thin marine ply and WEST SYSTEM® epoxy, the original and best marine grade epoxy. A mould was taken from Sean’s original catamaran. From that Cheetah Marine built its business. More
How to use colour tints with epoxy
If you want advice on how to use colour with epoxy, read our top tips. The tints have been specifically designed for use with crystal-clear ENTROPY RESINS® Clear Casting Epoxy, although the tints can be used with all the ENTROPY RESINS products. ENTROPY RESINS products are world renowned for their bio content and sustainable attributes ... More
Come and see us at Advanced Engineering and / or METSTRADE
This time of year is always busy with a great selection of shows and exhibitions across Europe including the flagship UK composites exhibition, which we are once again delighted to support. At all of these trade exhibitions, the Wessex Resins & Adhesives technical epoxy experts really enjoy meeting with customers and offering sound technical advice ... More
Moulding an oil tray
The beauty of epoxy, says Jake Kavanagh, is that it makes a tough, non-shrinking connection between various angles of wood, ideal when you want to make a plug for a custom mould. Which is why he wrote this article for us on how to make a oil drip tray. Not that we don’t trust the brand-new ... More
Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 9
The finished 18th century Gajeta – or how to build a classic boat with epoxy. As you’ll know, we’ve run a series on the build of a Gajeta at the Betina Shipyard in Croatia. In this final instalment we look back at where she started and what she became. From 3D design to the final item: ... More
From barrel to board
These stunning whisky barrel surfboards were crafted with whisky barrels and made with ENTROPY RESINS®. Although they’re destined for walls they’re true advocates for the beauty of well used wood and crystal-clear epoxy. According to Jason Burnett (Jay Surfboards), most surfboard shapers start making their products in a shed. “I started repairing boards in a hut in ... More
Rowing the Atlantic for charity
We’re delighted to be supporting two firefighters from St Mary’s, Southampton, in their epic quest to row across the Atlantic and raise money for charity. Billed as the premier event in ocean rowing the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a journey of over 3,000 miles west from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain ... More
A quality finish
Peter Oman has worked in construction sites all his life. He’s a building engineer and is now turning his skills and passion in a new direction, creating bespoke pieces of craftsmanship, with crystal clear finishes, from his home in the small village of Kvevlax. He lives 500km from Helsinki, and has his own sawmill, kiln ... More
Table top talks
While it’s clear that ENTROPY RESINS®, the bio-based epoxy, is taking the surf, skate and snowboard shapers, makers and crafter markets by storm, what’s not so well known is its fascinating history. In this short film we learn about the development of ENTROPY RESINS including working with surfers to understand the need for flex and give; and how ... More
Magical sailing
In 2002 the seed was planted for John Taylor to build a boat with WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. He bought a wagon full of cedar four by two and that was it, Ocean Swift (44ft catamaran) started. John had found a mention of WEST SYSTEM epoxy in a magazine, arranged an appointment and met up with David Johnson ... More
The lightweight winner
Maguire Boats customers range from triple Olympic gold medallists to current America’s Cup sailors, via weekend sailors. “Whoever it is though, the product doesn’t change,” says Simon Maguire, “the quality is consistently high for every customer. I meet them as they come off the water to get direct feedback. Everything is about performance around the racecourse, ... More
Spirit of sustainability
According to Nigel Stuart, Spirit Yachts are handed down through generations as family assets. They’re so valued it’s not often that one comes on the market for a resale. Nigel puts it down to Spirit owners being people who like to look after their assets and why wouldn’t they when they’re so beautifully crafted? And now ... More
Building with precision and passion
“We’ve had a long collaboration with Wessex Resins,” says Will Reed from the Boat Building Academy. “The products are excellent. I’ve used them for 20 years personally. The technical support offered is so important. Wessex Resins is at the end of the phone and they come in and talk to the students. “All boats built ... More
Using PRO-SET epoxy with composites – interview with James Newman
James Newman, J-TEC Composites, says his favourite part of making products is the final outcome, when he sees the face of the customer realising the part ‘does what they want it to do’. He’s been using composites from an early age, starting out with a model boat which had such a “ridiculous engine, it ended ... More
We’re ‘in conversation’ at Southampton International Boat Show
Join us at SIBS (Ocean Hall, J401) on Tuesday 17th September where we’ll be ‘in conversation’ with a really interesting array of expert speakers from across the marine world. (Pictured above, top row L-R: Adam Bundle, Nigel Stuart, Simon Maguire. Below L-R: James Newman, Hamish Cook, Will Reed) Adam Bundle – Rowing the Atlantic – 11:30 ... More
Epoxy Workshop, 7 Nov 2019
Looking for a practical way to increase your epoxy skills and knowledge? Book onto our one-day epoxy workshop, 7th November 2019. Here at Wessex Resins and Adhesives, we’re hosting a special event for those wanting to gain expert knowledge and hands-on experience of using WEST SYSTEM® epoxy to construct, repair and maintain their own boats, or ... More
Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 8
The finishing touches to this project combining traditional craftsmanship with epoxy In our latest instalment of the building of a replica of an 18th century Croatian Gajeta, ‘Lipa Moja’ becomes the sum of her parts. Many hours of traditional craftsmanship – combined with the precision of CNC cutting and the adhesive power of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy – has ... More
Surfing the world
According to Luke Young his boards are built with science and timing and that’s what makes them perfect for world-class surfers across the globe. Epoxycraft finds out which epoxy for surfboards he’s using. Luke Young has made surfboards for the world-class elite and also for beginners, intermediaries and more. He’s been building bespoke surfboards for ... More
Driven to win
Competing against the cream of engineering students, the University of Manchester is taking a bespoke single-seater to race at Silverstone. They’re using the best epoxy for automobiles. Formula Student is the world’s largest student engineering design competition with entries from around the world, including USA, Australia, India, Canada and the Far East, as well as ... More
Making a 5,000-year-old pen
Penmaker and woodturner Ron Caddy specialises in combining ancient timber and modern epoxies to make exquisite – and affordable – custom pens. Ron is now making his latest creations with bio-based ENTROPY RESINS® epoxy. At a craft show near Romsey in Hampshire Ron Caddy was drawing a lot of attention to his display of custom-made pens. Whilst the inner ... More
The laminated bamboo bike
Michael Cubbage designs and makes bikes with laminated bamboo and WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. Using bamboo for bikes isn’t new. The material’s been utilised since the 1800s, but historically bikes were made from canes lashed together with hemp and glue. Michael, from Tri-Sept Cycles, has a very different approach. “The bamboo I use is similar to ... More
Rocking out: carpenter uses epoxy to build a guitar
When it comes to the art of making stringed instruments, a luthier’s first choice of material would traditionally be poplar, ash, maple, rosewood or another workable wood. Epoxy certainly wouldn’t spring to mind. However, anything but traditional, this is exactly what the craftsmen at Carpentaría Lambar used to make their unique guitar. Carpentaría Lambar, based just ... More
Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 7
After several months of intense boatbuilding, the craftsmen at the Betina Shipyard in Croatia are in the final stages of the completing their experimental 7-metre traditional sailing gajeta. Now the emphasis shifts to vacuum forming the curved brightwork of the interior. The beauty of using epoxy is that it forms a powerful adhesive, one that ... More
Using WEST SYSTEM G/5 Five-Minute Adhesive for wood and metal
Experienced woodturner Viv Broughton uses quick setting epoxy to secure elements of his wide portfolio of pieces. He gave us a quick tour of his workshop in Hampshire to explain the role of WEST SYSTEM® G/5 Five-Minute Adhesive (quick setting epoxy). Viv Broughton has a passion for wood. He works out of a small but well-equipped ... More
A Morris pick-up makeover
Wales-based boatbuilder John Jones has used his woodworking skills to renovate his beloved 1962-vintage Morris pick-up with a judicious use of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy, the best glue for wood (and other materials). The Morris Minor, or ‘Moggie’, has been likened to Doctor Who’s Tardis in that it travels through time pretty well. Designed during the Second ... More
Sustainable, stunning designs with ENTROPY RESINS
It’s not hard to notice how enamoured Wessex Resins and Adhesives is with ROOSO DESIGNS, so much so we’ve used lots of their images in our recent advertising. You might have seen ROOSO’s work with the ENTROPY RESINS® range to make incredible furniture and art pieces for homes and businesses, like making river tables with epoxy. ... More
Happy Birthday to Gougeon Brothers, Inc!
As you know, we manufacture WEST SYSTEM®, PRO-SET® and ENTROPY RESINS® under licence from the Gougeon Brothers Inc, USA. Below Grace Ombry traces the company’s heritage, from its modest beginnings as a boat shop to a company which is now helping millions of people across the world build, repair and maintain boats of all sizes ... More
ENTROPY RESINS® new online store launched for European customers
We’re delighted to announce the launch of a new online store to facilitate ordering the unique range of bio-based epoxy: ENTROPY RESINS. The EU online store has been added to the current North American website WWW.ENTROPYRESINS.COM and will support the existing network of distributors and retailers. You will be able to buy ENTROPY RESINS from ... More
How to build a mouse boat with epoxy and Oarsome Chance
Back to basics Wessex Resins and Adhesives is a proud sponsor of the charity Oarsome Chance, where disadvantaged and school-excluded young adults learn how to build and repair boats and use them on the water. Instructor Nick Hart describes the making of a ‘Mouse Boat’. The Mouse Boat The Mouse Boat can be made from ... More
Tips from the Professionals (teak strips)
Preparing teak strips for bonding Here’s a tip for preparing a teak plank for a small-scale project such as a cockpit table, using teak and epoxy. It could work just as well on a complete deck. Mark at Aquamarine Ltd uses it whenever he wants to bond teak to a substrate rather than physically attach ... More
Raising the bar with ENTROPY RESINS Clear Casting Resin
James Case has been a member of Wells Sailing Club since he was a child. “It’s always had the same bar,” he says, “but when the club decided to do a major refit, we decided to make a new bar with a nautical theme.” Which is where his previous expertise as a self-employed boat builder ... More
Make a river table with ENTROPY RESINS
The transparency of ENTROPY RESINS® CCR clear casting epoxy makes it ideal for the creation of a ‘river table,’ a furniture design that mimics a stream flowing between two ‘banks’ of wood. River tables (sometimes also called water tables) have become a sought-after piece of furniture as they combine traditional timber with clear cast resin ... More
Testing the mould
Recently we tested a range of moulds which could be used with ENTROPY RESINS® Clear Casting Epoxy. Some of the moulds were bought online, some came from household items and others came from kind donations (like re-purposing an unused Pampered Chef silicone cupcake tray!). We’re taking these, and some more substantial products like our river ... More
Baking a Surfboard
ENTROPY RESINS® is cooking up more than a few dedicated followers in Italy. You can clearly tell that ENTROPY RESINS is a surf-business epoxy given the number of manufacturers around the world who use it to laminate their boards. And, you’ll be pleased to know, we offer a completely free technical advice service to support ... More
Supporting the restoration of Lively Lady
Products from Wessex Resins and Adhesives and expertise from the UK-based technical team have been donated to a charity attempting to revive a piece of sailing history, the 36ft sailing yacht Lively Lady. One of the UK’s most iconic sailing yachts is undergoing a major restoration with WEST SYSTEM® epoxy playing a key role in ... More
Rossion Cars has built a boutique business, with the help of PRO-SET epoxy
“I’m from Mooresville – the home of NASCAR – in North Carolina,” says Jason Young, Global Sales Rossion Cars. “All my buddies race or build cars, so it makes sense that I stayed in the industry I grew up with.” And what a company to be working for. Rossion builds a mere 36-48 cars a year ... More
Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 6
In our latest instalment of this fascinating series, we get deep inside the build of this inshore fishing vessel. The tough and seaworthy gajeta is powered by a lanteen sail and a small inboard engine. This graphic shows the internal design, including the small forepeak cabin and was posted onto the workshop wall as inspiration. ... More
How to fix battens with epoxy (on a ferro hull)
When fitting out a bare hull or during a refit or renovation project you may find you need to attach some longitudinal or even vertical battens against the bare glass fibre. Read on to find out about fixing battens with epoxy. This process is particularly useful for attaching headlining or in this instance insulation to ... More
Experimentation with ENTROPY RESINS
David Johnson (our sales director) recently visited Turkey to run an ENTROPY RESINS® workshop. As he and the delegates discovered there is something really satisfying about being let loose on the creative projects that you can make with ENTROPY RESINS Clear Casting Epoxy – a bio-based clear casting epoxy. Hosted by Sema Carckci of Etap ... More
Product design using epoxy for casting
Keith Moir, a lecturer in product design at City of Glasgow College, tasked his students with creating some eye-catching plant pots using ENTROPY RESINS® (given its eco-friendly, sustainable credentials), an excellent epoxy for casting. Wessex Resins and Adhesives’ Sam Oliver judging the students’ creativity at the Faculty of Creative Industries at Glasgow City College in ... More
Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 5
Part 5: All skin and ribs Designed on 3D software by a 21st century architect working to 18th century specifications, our wooden Gajeta is ready to receive her cosmetic outer skin. The skilled craftsmen at the Betina Shipyard in Croatia now build up the double-diagonal epoxy-sheathed hull with a modern primer/filler. Peel ply was laid over the ... More
Longbow – how to survive a disaster
The British team attempting to break the water speed record in a jet-powered hydroplane are well aware of the risks, so the pilot will be able to survive a crash in a purpose-built escape capsule – made from epoxy composite, of course. The Longbow project, with WEST SYSTEM epoxy materials sponsored by Wessex Resins & ... More
Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 4
Part 4: Putting on the skin and sheathing A gajeta is a traditional design of small open fishing boat but as they are raced competitively, an enterprising naval architect decided to make one using modern epoxy techniques. In this instalment, the computer-generated design is taking shape on its temporary jig and the base layer of ... More
It’s all in the name
Building an International14 is no mean feat but naming it is even harder, according to the team building it and trying to do just that. Liam Stacpoole and Wayne Barnicoat refuse to give any clues as to what the potential name for their new PRO-SET® Epoxy produced INT14 will be. They suspect it might cause ... More
New high temperature PRO-SET Epoxy products available
Did you know we have a new high temperature system available in our PRO-SET product range? Included within it are an infusion system, laminating system (with two cure speeds) and a surface coat system. They’re all able to reach glass transition temperatures of 150°C, making them great for synthetic composite mould and tooling manufacture. Plus ... More
Visit Wessex Resins and Adhesives at JEC WORLD
JEC World is the leading international composites show and this will be the 21st time that we’ve attended the event with our brand PRO-SET Epoxy. Plus, this year we’re taking our new bio-based epoxy system, ENTROPY RESINS. “We’re interested in talking to all industry professionals,” says Sam Oliver, area sales manager. “We get to catch up with all ... More
Upgrading a KELT 850 Rudder using PRO-SET Epoxy
Back in 2015 we ran a story on fixing rudders, written by Wessex Resins and Adhesives technical guru David Johnson. Here he updates us on his rudder repairs and how to make them using PRO-SET and WEST SYSTEM products. Read the original article here: https://epoxycraft.com/how-to-use-epoxy-to-fix-the-rudder-of-a-sailing-yacht/ Planning and preparation Firstly this kind of work is no small ... More
PRO-SET stickers now available
We’re loving our new PRODUCED with PRO-SET stickers. If you’ve built, laminated or infused with our PRO-SET epoxy range, catch one of the team and they’ll be delighted to supply you with some. We’re really proud of our brand. Our epoxy is strong and produces lightweight products with amazing results from our professional users. These ... More
Worldwide learning
Infused learning Over the last few months we’ve been delighted to welcome our Turkish and Italian distributors and their customers to our PRO-SET Epoxy Seminar. Plus, we’ve had guests of Marine and Industrial visit us here in Romsey. Many of our distributors bring their customers to experience working with PRO-SET and WEST SYSTEM epoxy products. ... More
How Darkside Canoes build canoes with resin infusion
From hobbyist to thriving business, Nick Adnitt’s canoes are racing ahead. Here he talks about the past five years and how the lightweight strength of PRO-SET epoxy products has made all the difference to portage. And how he builds canoes with resin infusion. According to Nick the name of his company, Darkside Canoes, is a hangover ... More
How to keep your epoxy warm in winter: build a hotbox
The winter is a challenging time for epoxy products. Warmth is needed to keep the resin fluid enough for the dispensing pumps to work well, whilst a cold ambient temperature can greatly reduce the curing times and may even compromise the strength of the finished work. So to keep epoxy warm in winter, build a ... More
A product of passion and tradition
If you were to see a fire engine drive past with a flagpole strapped to the roof you would be forgiven for being confused. Although an unusual choice for a company vehicle, the decommissioned appliance from the Carlisle Fire Service is ideal for the Wooden Flagpole Company to deliver and install its traditional wooden flagpoles. ... More
Oarsome Chance – Learning about epoxy and life
Oarsome Chance (OC) is a charity where young people who have been excluded from mainstream education learn to work with their hands. This practical training is also combined with learning about business and how raw materials can be turned into saleable items. The charity gets its name from one of the first things students learn ... More
The Longbow Jet Hydroplane project
A team of British enthusiasts is building a jet-powered boat to beat the current water speed record of 317mph. WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy will be holding it all together. Tucked away in a home workshop on the Fylde Coast, Lancashire, a remarkable hydroplane is taking shape. Powered by twin Rolls Royce Viper 535 pure thrust jet ... More
Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 3
Part 3: Base layer planking In a boatyard in Croatia, an 8-metre Croatian Gajeta is being built with a merger of new materials (epoxy) and traditional skills. At this stage of the project, it is ready to receive its first set of planks. To avoid using nails or screws in the build, everything will be ... More
Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 2
Part 2: Applying the skin In a remarkable project that combines traditional boatbuilding skills with modern techniques, a Croatian Gajetareceives its primary wooden framework, cut by computer and bonded with WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. With the plywood formers for the 7m (21ft) fishing boat assembled at the Betina Shipyard in Croatia (see part 1) the task of ... More
Two products for top performance
Based in West Yorkshire, Winder Boats builds high performance racing dinghies and foils using PRO-SET epoxy. The key to success was finding the right product and – literally – sticking with it. Anyone who has sailed a Merlin Rocket or Fireball dinghy knows the exhilaration they give from close racing in a stiff breeze and ... More
Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 1
Part 1: Design and lofting When naval architect Srdan Dakovic was recruited to combine traditional wooden boatbuilding with modern technology, he designed a Croatian gajeta to be cut by CNC and bonded entirely with WEST SYSTEM epoxy. From 3D concept to hand-built reality. The completed gajeta takes part in the annual regatta, and – as ... More
Building on renewables
The beautifully-built Ocean Explorer 72 catamaran has the ability to run silently on electric propulsion recharged from renewables. Part of the secret is the composite structure using PRO-SET epoxy, which makes the yacht light, strong and easily driven. Built in Finland by Ocean Quality Systems (OQS) Ltd, the Ocean Explorer catamaran range has been designed by the celebrated ... More
Building a Bruce Roberts in India
Boat builder Abdul Hakeem has created this stunning 70-foot yacht from wooden laminates and equipped her like a superyacht. Epoxycraft is always delighted to hear from its global community of dealers and customers, and when we received an email from Abdul Hakeem of Sulkha Shipyard in India, we were greatly impressed with his new build ... More
British style turns heads on the French Riviera
Whilst Epoxycraft was visiting the Cannes Boat Show this year we saw Hawksley Classic’s beautiful motorboat in pride of place by the main VIP and press entrance and we just had to bring you these shots. In 2016, Simon set up his custom boat building company in the UK’s West Country (apt, as they use ... More
Putting the Thyme in
Reaching her magnificent prime in her mid-thirties, Double Thyme’s beauty regime is managed by owner Chris Eager and there’re no prizes for guessing where that outer glow comes from – WEST SYSTEM epoxy products. “We bought Double Thyme in 2010,” Chris says from a wet and windy August day in Oban. “And we’ve been working ... More
Grey Falcon Update
David Grey is now in the engineering stages of his home build of a 5.8m barrel-back American-designed Glen-L runabout , but – as he laments on his blog – why does everything take so long? The timetable also took a knock when David had an accident with a bandsaw. A very slight misalignment with the ... More
Spirit Yachts – The ultimate racing machine?
The Spirit 52D has combined traditional timber, carbon fibre and PRO-SET epoxy to make a high-performance head turner. Building in wood is enjoying a huge resurgence due to the ability to make stunning one-offs and the 52D from UK-based Spirit Yachts is a classic example – classic being the operative word. Spirit Yachts draws its ... More
Lively Lady update: Re-decked and painted
She’s looking good! Work on this historic vessel is now nearing completion, with a small team of volunteers giving up their free time to turn what was a gutted wreck into a yacht that is now in even better condition than when she was new! On Epoxycraft’s last visit on Friday 13th July 2018, we saw ... More
Lively lady to arrive at Port Solent this Saturday!
After an extensive refit, the iconic sailing yacht Lively Lady will be sailed back to her berth at Port Solent Marina, near Portsmouth, Hampshire, at around 1500h on Saturday 28th July 2018. Hundreds of well-wishers are expected to attend the event, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Alec Roses’s triumphant homecoming after his 1968 circumnavigation. ... More
Dinghy Park essentials
We asked David Johnson, Sales Director at West System International, technical expert and sometime yachtsman (that last one is his own description!), what WEST SYSTEM® products he would consider to be dinghy park essentials. That is those products that you should have with you in the dinghy park this summer, whether you’re away for a weekend ... More
All in a day’s work
The technical team are always happy to give advice about any epoxy project over the phone, or in person, and they love seeing the remarkable uses customers have for epoxy. So, how do you coat a Victorian wooden basin? When carpenter Joe Fancy arrived at the West System International’s HQ in Romsey in July, he bought with ... More
Swiss Performance Yachts
Tucked away within a modern furniture factory near Tallinn, Estonia, a small company is building beautiful new boats in wood whilst also restoring some classics from the 60’s. The first 10-metre sailing yacht was being made using WEST SYSTEM epoxy to bond the mahogany veneers. Built to plans from the Dutch naval architects Hoek Design, ... More
How to adapt your glue brush for a delicate repair on a small surface
Hamish, one of West System Technical Team, has a solution for those times when accurate application of epoxy to make a repair on a small surface is key – trim your bristles! Here he explains how to adapt your brush for a delicate repair. “WEST SYSTEM 803 Glue Brushes have one inch bristles which are excellent for priming fillet joints, ... More
Black Marlin – Jan Andersen’s 10m carbon-fibre trimaran
The best way to make a cruising yacht with a performance ‘far above normal’ is to use multiple hulls infused with West System International’s PRO-SET epoxy. Then use composites to create an equally light rig and interior. Fit an electric motor for green propulsion and the result is Jan Andersen’s awesome Black Marlin. Black Marlin ... More
Figuring out a solution
If you’ve created a work of art, you want to make sure it stands the test of time. Wood Carver, Robert Lawrence uses WEST SYSTEM® epoxy resin on wood to make sure his pieces will carry-on living. “I’m mad keen on sailing my Drascombe Scaffie,” Robert Lawrence says from his home minutes from the North Sea. ... More
News from our distributors
How to use boatbuilding skills to fix a lorry! HF Marin AB is our distributor of WEST SYSTEM® products in Sweden, but in addition to supplying a wide range of boatbuilders, HF Marin also provides epoxy to a leading truck repair workshop. When a lorry was brought in with side panel damage, the workshop thought ... More
Chasing the stars: a progress update from pioneering rocket company Starchaser
The UK’s pioneering rocket company Starchaser has been working since 1992 to put the man in the street into low earth orbit. We asked Starchaser’s founder Steve Bennett for an update on progress. “We know that 7 out of 10 people when asked say that they would love to take a trip into space,” said ... More
Gauging the situation
When a lifetime’s passion for trains, seven grandchildren and a grand-plan for a garden railway come together, Steve Vick railway creator, advises Wessex Resins & Adhesives always has an answer. As the managing director of his own company, Steve Vick International Ltd., making old gas mains safe for modern use, Steve Vick is used to ... More
PRO-SET laminated Maguire Exocets take all 17 top positions in the recent Moth World Championships
Soon to be celebrating the creation of their 100th Exocet Moth, the team at Hampshire-based Maguire Boats are flushed with the success of recent racing results. Maguire-built boats took all 17 of the top positions from a fleet of 45 entrants at the Moth Worlds in Bermuda earlier this year and this winning streak seems ... More
Wessex Resins and Adhesives LTD achieves the transition to BS EN ISO 9001:2015
Wessex Resins and Adhesives has achieved the transition to the latest Quality Management System and the Company is now certified to BS EN ISO 9001:2015. ISO 9001:2015 certification demonstrates the Company’s commitment to achieving its vision to be a leader in its chosen markets whilst providing extraordinary customer support at all times. Our customers can ... More
Helping give young people an Oarsome Chance
Oarsome Chance is a ground-breaking new charity bringing about change for disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas by using the powerful incentive of sport in combination with vocational training. As part of their work, the charity is developing the OC 24 skiff – a purpose-built boat designed for them by Paul Fisher for the young people ... More
Protecting bare plywood with epoxy
Many older boats are made using plywood and this can deteriorate with age, especially if rainwater has been able to penetrate the paint layers. WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy will repair and preserve the wood for many years to come. PREPARATION AND REPAIRS The cabin on my ferro-cement boat was made from 1 inch (25mm) marine plywood back ... More
WSI supports the restoration of Lively Lady
Products from West System International and expertise from the UK-based technical team have been donated to a charity attempting to revive a piece of sailing history, the 36ft sailing yacht Lively Lady. One of the UK’s most iconic sailing yachts is undergoing a major restoration with WEST SYSTEM® epoxy playing a key role in preserving ... More
Building a 9’ Stornoway Rowing Boat by Leon Spender
This project was a “bucket list” idea that I have wanted to make real for some years. I am a fit 76 year old and despite difficulties along the way, the task has been engaging and worthwhile. I am a competent woodworker but I have never previously built a boat. Before I outline some aspects of the job, ... More
From concorde to formula 1 – J-TEC Composites on the challenges of making performance parts in carbon
When former aviation engineer James Newman began experimenting with PRO-SET epoxy for creating custom carbon-fibre components, he didn’t realise it would lead to a whole new career path. The PRO-SET epoxy range has been developed to create incredibly lightweight but strong component parts, especially by infusion. This is why you will find PRO-SET epoxy used ... More
Build small whilst thinking big
Experiment with cedar strip canoe building with this 1:12 scale model from Bear Mountain Boats The cedar strip method of boat building allows for the creation of some truly beautiful canoes and kayaks. This comes not just from the natural colours of the epoxy-coated wood, but also from the way the thin planks can be ... More
British Birds by Mike Watkins
Talented sculptor Mike Watkins makes these remarkable studies of British birds out of modelling clay and installs them on an assortment of background materials, sourced from their usual habitat. Each sculpture is assembled using WEST SYSTEM G5 five-minute epoxy which Mike uses to bond various elements of the sculpture together, including the complex supports and ... More
Building a modern classic launch
Experienced in making furniture as a hobby, retired fashion photographer David Falcon Grey decided his next project would be a hand built, retro-styled motorboat. Although far from being finished, the result is stunning. Back in the late 30s and again in 50s and 60s, several American and Italian boatyards began to produce some head-turning launches ... More
A bicycle made of wood?
Keen cyclist Chris Thompson realised that the versatility and strength of WEST SYSTEM epoxy would allow him to make his dream bicycle out of hardwood. The result is a roadworthy work of art. Take several sections of dense brown oak, hollow them out and then assemble them into a frame, one you have designed after ... More
How to repair guitar headstock / neck break with epoxy
Joe White and his son James run ‘J White Guitar Workshops’, a custom guitar build and repair business just outside the English town of Aldershot, Hampshire and can boast many celebrities amongst their clientele. Guitars belonging to Status Quo, Stereophonics, The Rolling Stones, The Kaiser Chiefs and many more have all come in for ‘a bit of ... More
My Project: an 18’ sea kayak By Duncan Riddle
Back to basics I just completed the 38 week Boat Building Course at the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy. Like several other students on the course, I’d spent several years in a corporate environment and was looking to get back to basics, working with traditional techniques and materials to create something with my own hands. ... More
Meade A. Gougeon: September 25, 1938–August 27, 2017
“The wind is coming up. Tell the boys they can commence with the race.” Fittingly, these would be the last words of Meade A. Gougeon as he watched a fleet of sailboats, including his trimaran Adagio, assembling for the Great Lakes Multihull Regatta in front of his home on the Saginaw Bay. Gougeon died Sunday, August ... More
My Project: an 18ft classic powerboat by Simon Hawksley
From boat enthusiast to boat builder When I was a kid, my dad used to take me to the seaside and we’d go out fishing on a tiny boat with a four-horse outboard motor. When I went to university to study engineering, I got involved with the scuba diving club and spent time around all ... More
Gary’s new doors: weatherproof and very pretty
There’s only one thing worse than a dark hallway and that’s door envy. Just what we got when we talked to West System International’s Gary Thompson about his new, epoxy coated, Breakfast Room Green-painted wood and glass front door. Very nice. Part 1: Gary’s front and back door project Epoxy expert Gary Thompson had known ... More
The Atomik Voodoo Moth: blink and you’ll miss it
Phil Oligario restored his first racing moth in his garage nearly a decade ago. Fast forward to now and Phil and his company, Atomik UK, build the Chris Allen-designed Voodoo Moth, which rides high on low-drag Macita foils. We asked Phil how he got obsessed with moths, how he turned his hobby into a vocation ... More
Colombo Leopoldo: boat building tradition on Lake Como
Since the Second World War, Leopoldo Colombo and his family have been building exceptional wooden boats on Lake Como in Italy. Now, Leopoldo’s grandson, Giovanni, is overseeing the construction of a beautiful motor day cruiser – the Poldo 23. Could it be the yard’s best model yet? The story of Colombo Leopoldo boat yard began ... More
My Project: a complete restoration of a badly damaged Thames Rowing Skiff By Dave Webb
Meeting our Thames Rowing Skiff: “Maggie” I’ve always dreamed of owning a Thames Rowing Skiff, so when I retired, I started searching for one. I met with Mark Edwards at Richmond who builds superb skiffs. One of his beautifully restored skiffs was up for sale and my wife Maggie and I went to look at ... More
Q&A with Naval Architect Andrew Wolstenholme
Andrew Wolstenholme is the renaissance man of naval architecture. He’s designed everything from classic broads sailing yachts to production powerboats and gentlemen’s launches, and he’s more prolific than ever. Epoxycraft asked him how he first got interested in boat design; what drives his design philosophy and why so many of his boats use wood/epoxy construction ... More
Beautiful new wheel for historic Jersey water mill
“When I was tasked with building and installing a new wheel at a historic water mill, I wanted to do it right. I’m proud of what we achieved, and the new wheel isn’t just beautiful – it will also last for decades,” says Tony Gray, Trust Joiner at the National Trust for Jersey. Quétival Mill ... More
All about: HF Marin Sweden
When HF Marin Sweden’s Founder and Managing Director Krister Bewert returned from a nine-year trans-Atlantic voyage, he didn’t know what the future would hold. Then, he got a golden opportunity to distribute WEST SYSTEM® and PRO-SET® epoxy to boatbuilders and repair yards across Sweden and he’s never looked back. When my wife, Gunilla, and I ... More
The stylish and sleek, handcrafted, wooden sink
In February 2017 we featured a beautiful wooden bath tub built by the multi-talented Marco Casavecchia – an architect, boat builder and cabinet maker based in Susa, Italy. We caught up with Marco again this month to hear all about his latest project, a stunning and unusual wooden sink built for one of his customers. ... More
Recycling an oak slab
When this DIY enthusiast was offered a free oak slab from an old tree which had been cut down, he jumped at the opportunity to turn it into something incredible. This great little blog documents his process of turning the spalted chunk of wood into a beautifully finished table – with a little help from ... More
The Flying 10: the lovable dinghy with a prize-winning finish
When boatbuilding duo Tim Loftus and Dan Johnson decided to build a dinghy for the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show, they never expected it to win an award. However, this “cute little boat with a jolly countenance” impressed the judges so much, it won the show’s coveted Concours d’Elegance. We speak to Tim to discover how ... More
The Vampire: the ultimate foiling experiment
The south east of the UK is home to, arguably, the most innovative hydrofoiling experiment in recent years: the Vampire Project. Through years of hard work and meticulous design, a team comprising of arguably the best in the business, is perfecting a pioneering foiling catamaran that’s really pushing boundaries. We speak to boatbuilder Graham Eeles ... More
Personalising knives with epoxy
Get creative with epoxy! We found this fun video made by Linn in the USA showing you how to make these funky personalised knives at home. These could be a great addition to your knife collection or even be used as gifts – Linn teaches you how to customise them so you can choose exactly ... More
How to make a penny floor
The story of the IT worker who made his own penny floor went viral recently – and it’s easy to see why. With a load of copper pennies, some epoxy and just a little patience, you can create a stunning bespoke floor covering that really won’t cost you the earth. Here, we talk you through ... More
A bath tub… with a difference
What do you get if you cross an architect, a boat-builder and a cabinetmaker? You get Marco Casavecchia, who builds a variety of exquisite wooden items from his studio in Susa, Italy. Here, he talks to us about a recent project: a stunning wooden bathtub. How did the project come about? A customer approached me ... More
Kator: The cruising cat with a need for speed
If a motor racing legend asks you to build him the ultimate performance cruising cat, you pull out all the stops. Australian shipwright Julian Griffiths tells us how he’s satisfying Tony Longhurst’s need for speed with Kator, the first-of-its-kind G-Force 2000 Speciale – built with a little help from WEST SYSTEM® epoxy products. “When Tony ... More
Building a Haven with a modern foam and epoxy hull
Before joining the West System International team, Area Sales Manager Gary Thompson honed his boat building skills and epoxy knowledge with a course at the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy. Here, Gary proudly recounts the building of his Herreshoff Haven daysailer. How did the project come about? I was keen to top-up my wood working ... More
An historic fishing boat for the 21st century
The Shipyard and Marina in Betina, Croatia has been building boats for a staggering 270 years. It is one of the last bastions of traditional wooden shipbuilding on the Croatian Adriatic coast – but they’re still keen to move with the times. Here, Technical Director Joško Radić tells us about his team’s modern take on ... More
How to build a bamboo archery bow
A little while ago, we told you all about our very own Richard’s hobby of building and flying model airplanes. This month, our technical expert Hamish Cook shares his passion for archery – and talks us through how he built a traditional flatbow in bamboo and epoxy. The flatbow is the most traditional and ancient ... More
The White Seal with the mysterious past
Rumour has it that the Ròn Bhán – Gaelic for White Seal – was commissioned for gun running between Ireland and Scotland; but is it true? We dig deeper into the renovation of this classic carvel construction from the James Silver boatyard and see how a complete overhaul with the help of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy ... More
Building a cedar strip canoe with WEST SYSTEM epoxy
First-time boatbuilder Martin Corrall found the perfect retirement project when he saw a beautiful Nick Schade designed cedar strip canoe at a friend’s house. Martin tells us about his steep learning curve and why it was all worth it. How did the project come about? As soon as I saw the canoe at a friend’s ... More
All about: HF Industri & Marine
Anna Fokdal talks about her pioneering father, Hans, and how he has changed the world of Danish boatbuilding. Now I look back on it, it’s probably fair to say that my father was singlehandedly responsible for introducing wood epoxy construction techniques to Denmark. Nearly 25 years since he set up our business, we now supply ... More
Greenpower: putting engineering in pole position
The UK engineering sector is full of talent and it’s growing. The question is, how do you attract the next generation of innovators and creators? The Greenpower Education Trust may just have the answer. We caught up with retired Engineering teacher Alan Beardmore and Greenpower CEO Jeremy Way to find out more about this inspirational ... More
Restoring an 18th century Ebonised Table Cabinet
We loved this interesting blog by Kate Aughey relaying the process of repairing a beautiful little cabinet originally made in the 18th century. The blog talks through the process of creating new rippled mouldings and carved motifs in line with the rest of the detailing on the cabinet, as well as colouring epoxy for an ... More
Design team behind the Farr 30 talk about use of PRO-SET epoxy in build
Streamlined, fast and powerful, the ground-breaking Farr (Mumm) 30 has become a modern classic in the field of fleet racing. Still many years from retirement, these boats are enjoying an active competitive life on the one-design racing circuit. We speak to Chris Turner of Ovington Boats and Alon Finkelstein of Farr Yacht Design about how ... More
A lifeboat love affair
If you’re ever travelling down the Gloucester to Sharpness canal, keep an eye out for Craig Glassonbury. As General Manager of distinguished boatbuilders RW Davis & Son Ltd, he can be seen on the dry dock at Saul refurbishing all sorts of historic boats with his colleagues. Here, he tells us about the boatyard’s restoration ... More
The Asap watercraft
Beach life-saving equipment can be outdated, expensive to run and time-consuming to set up in an emergency. So when Loughborough University graduate Ross Kemp realised this, he created the Asap water craft: an easy-to-use, power-assisted watercraft for beach lifeguards. Here he tells us about the project, its success and why epoxy resin has played an ... More
All about: Marine & Industrial
‘Quality Products, Exceptional Service’. It’s the motto that has helped Marine & Industrial in Norfolk become one of the leading distributors of adhesives and sealants to the UK marine industry. We speak to Managing Director Robin Mace about the origins of this family-run business. My parents, Richard and Penny Mace, started the business in 1986 ... More
The Ribbon rocking chair
For over 20 years, Katie Walker has been producing original pieces of beautifully crafted furniture. Having gained great success with her iconic, modern and classic designs, her work – which often relies on WEST SYSTEM® epoxy – can be found throughout galleries and retailers across the UK. Here she tells us about the creation of ... More
Stellar: a traditional boat for the modern family
Lucky enough to grow up on the Norfolk Broads, Tim Frary has boating in his blood. Keen to pass on his love of sailing to his young family, he’s built Stellar, a stunning 31.4ft traditional river cruiser. Here Tim explains how, with a lot of hard work – and PRO-SET® and WEST SYSTEM® epoxy – ... More
Restoring the Sea-lion at IBTC Lowestoft
The International Boatbuilding Training College (IBTC) at Lowestoft builds and restores a wide variety of vessels, both within the college and at its commercial boat yard. The last few weeks have seen some major restoration work on Swn-Y-Dwr (Sea Lion), a 36-foot steel motor yacht built in the late 1960s. Lewis Phillips of IBTC’s Marine ... More
Repairing a radio-controlled plane with epoxy
What does West System International’s Richard Ross do when he isn’t out on the road with customers? He flies remote controlled planes, that’s what – and he repairs them with epoxy, too. This month, he talks us through his latest repair to a Weston Cougar 2000. My wife likes to poke fun at my love ... More
Building with the cold-moulded method
After an unfortunate motorbike accident, Harry Evans was forced to put his boating career on hold. However, an opportunity to train as a boatbuilder at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis has given him a fresh start. Here, Harry tells us about his work at the college to build a Clinker sailing boat, which ... More
All about: Pinmar Supply
Given its beautiful location, it’s easy to see why Pinmar Supply is at the heart of the Mediterranean superyacht circuit. We speak to Commercial Director Jose Mora to discover how the Spanish arm of this global business grew from a humble corner of a workshop in Mallorca. Pinmar Supply is one of the most established ... More
Building boats and dreams on the shores of Lake Constance
The cutting-edge Arrow 1360 is a stunning 13.6m sailing cat that’s being built for the youth of Switzerland, by the youth of Switzerland. Damian Ruppen of Ocean Youth Sailing tells us more about this unique initiative to sail the world from the shores of Switzerland’s Lake Constance. “It all started about 10 years ago. I, ... More
Hoopy: the wooden bike you can build yourself
Boatbuilder Benjy thought it was a real shame that people weren’t woodworking in their spare time anymore. So in 2006 he decided to do something about that – and Woodenwidget was born. The company now designs and sells detailed plans for all sorts of beautiful, practical wooden items – including the stunning Hoopy wooden bicycle. ... More
A midsummer day’s sheathing
We’re always delighted when our customers ask for our expert help, so we gladly answered the call from Percy’s garage in Southampton for assistance with laminating a beautiful Canadian canoe. Here, Percy tells us about the project and shares his new-found knowledge of laminating. To build my canoe, I followed the brilliant instructions contained in Ted ... More
Bringing the TBYC ‘Oppie’ fleet back up to spec
Over the past 20 years, Thorpe Bay Yacht Club (TBYC) has successfully used the Optimist dinghy as an introductory training craft for Cadet Weeks and for the first stages of Sail Training. In this ‘Your Project’, TBYC’s Toby Speller tells us about the recent renovation work of their ‘Oppie’ fleet. TBYC has acquired ex-RYA training ... More
Helping the Kranich to fly again
When German boatbuilder Dieter Stöhr acquired the 1936 Kranich from the British Kiel Yacht Club, he knew it was going to take a lot of time and money to launch this striking sea cruiser back in the water. Six years and a lot of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy later, she’s getting ready to fly again. “She ... More
Crafting a calligraphy pen in wood and epoxy
Daithi Murphy from Ireland likes to make beautiful calligraphy pens using exotic hardwoods, plywood and acrylic. Here, he walks us through the craft process, and explains how epoxy gives all these materials the strength and flexibility to stay in one handsome piece. How did the project come about? Making pens on a lathe is exciting ... More
Racing the dream boat: the Bernico F3 Xtreme
Durable and lightweight are the holy grail of offshore powerboat racing but can you have both? Absolutely, says driver Bob McCarthy – with the help of epoxy, that is. We find out how Bob created his dream F3 Xtreme with master boatbuilder Nico Bertels, owner of Bernico International in Belgium. There’s a real skill to ... More
All about: Cantiere Navali De Cesari
Cantiere Navali De Cesari (De Cesari Boatyard) on the north-eastern coast of Italy is an illustrious name in international boatbuilding circles. They’re also one of the biggest fans of epoxy you’ll find. In this profile of the WEST SYSTEM® epoxy users, owner Paolo De Cesari tells us how the boatyard’s humble beginnings have led to ... More
Building a cedar strip-planked hull
When Anne Barry got the opportunity to build her own boat she took the plunge straight away and – with the help of some experts and WEST SYSTEM® epoxy – she built her very first sandbagger boat. How did the project come about? The idea of building a sandbagger happened quite by chance. All I ... More
Building a Formula One racing car – for the garden
When John White’s grandson was born, he suddenly realised he had the opportunity to fulfil a boyhood dream: to build a Formula 1 racing car! Or, at least, a model of one. We find out more about the role epoxy resin played in bringing a small version of John’s childhood dream-car to life. How did ... More
Renovating a vintage Irish racer
What does it take to renovate a carvel planked racing sailboat that’s more than 100 years old? Time, collaboration – and a healthy dose of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. In part one of this Your Project, Ian Byrne – co-owner of the Howth 17 Gladys – explores the backstory of this Irish beauty. The Howth 17 ... More
The race-winning Exocet: built to sail faster for longer
Take decades of boat-building knowledge, add one renowned Moth designer and a handful of the UK’s elite Moth sailors, then apply some PRO-SET® epoxy to the mix. What do you get? Exocet: the race-winning, high-performance and ultra-controllable International Moth produced by master boatbuilder Simon Maguire, owner of Hampshire-based Maguire Boats. “I’ve always been excited by ... More
The Vampire Project
If you’re as excited about cutting-edge foiling design as we are then you’ll love this short video about ‘The Vampire Project’ – a fantastic collaboration between catamaran sailor William Sunnucks and boat builder Graham Eeles to develop a new and revolutionary breed of foiling catamaran in Brightlingsea, Essex. Basing their design on the hugely successful ... More
Spirit 54: a Bond girl with a difference
When Daniel Craig cruised the Spirit 54 along Venice’s Grand Canal in the 2006 James Bond movie Casino Royale, it was the first time a sailing boat had entered those waters for 300 years. We spoke to the Spirit Yachts team about this breathtaking wooden beauty and discovered how WEST SYSTEM® epoxy resin had more ... More
Building the Hadron H2 Dinghy
Boat designer Keith Callaghan started early when, as a 14-year-old, his father got hold of the first set of plans for the Ballerina Mk2 sloop by designer Robert Tucker, who lived nearby in Enfield, London. Since the age of 18, Keith has been designing and building dinghies and small yachts. Here, he tells us about ... More
Building a Hazardous Zero-9 Sailing Dinghy
From centreboard case construction to scarfing and bonding planks, sailing enthusiast Julio takes you through an in-depth look at how he’s building a Hazardous Zero-9 Merlin Rocket designed by Keith Callaghan. This brilliant blog has been updated regularly by Julio, complete with images and great tips and lessons learnt along the way – so you don’t ... More
Ocean Swift: a self-build like no other
John Taylor gives a new meaning to the term ‘self-build boat’. With its handmade stainless steel fittings, strip cedar planks, engine system and far more besides, his stunning wood-and-epoxy catamaran Ocean Swift is a feat of expert engineering. To help him get his beautiful 44ft catamaran through customs overseas, John Taylor has written a book ... More
Restoring a 1967 Boston Whaler
We loved this blog by Meredith, a first time restorer, taking us through the processes of restoring her 1967 Boston Whaler boat. Meredith created this blog to share with the boating community her thoughts on the tools which she found most effective for her restoration and which ones she found least effective. As well as ... More
Summer in the City
Each year The Museum of Modern Art and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Centre conduct what is known as the P.S.1 / MOMA Young Architects Program. The competitors vie for the opportunity to build a temporary architectural project in the 17,000 square foot outdoor galleries of P.S.1 in Queens, New York. The structure serves as a venue ... More
Amateur Boat Building Awards: sponsored by West System International
The Water Craft Amateur Boat Building Awards (ABBA) will be taking place once again at the Beale Park Boat and Outdoor Show, this year to be held on the weekend of 3-5 June. The competition aims to inspire more people to build their own boats and celebrates the skills of amateur boat builders, which is ... More
Tempus Fugit: the super-fast superyacht
When Turkish boat builder Erbil Arkin wanted a superyacht that blended speed with a stunning aesthetic, he soon realised a J Class wasn’t enough. Here, project manager Önder Kahraman of Arkin Pruva Yachts explains how traditional wood craftsmanship combines with WEST SYSTEM® epoxy to create Tempus Fugit: a yacht that’s in a class of her ... More
Composite furniture that’s ahead of the curve
For decades, carbon fibre has been used purely for its lightweight properties, hidden away under the skin of the world’s fastest yachts – but not anymore. Furniture-maker Nicholas Spens puts the black check fabric centre stage in his sinuous, state-of-the-art designs and he trusts PRO-SET® epoxy to add a brilliant and robust finish. “Under ... More
Constructing a watertight pram dinghy with the help of epoxy
A few years ago, Gary Breeze bought plans for a small Mouse pram dinghy with a view to building one for his young daughter Rosalind. The plans languished on a shelf, however, until last year when Gary enrolled at the International Boatbuilding Training College at Lowestoft and was encouraged to dust them off. Gary tells ... More
The Whisper: the hydrofoil everyone’s shouting about
Want to try hydrofoiling without the multi-million pound price tag? The cutting-edge Whisper catamaran is making America’s Cup-style foiling more accessible than ever – and its lightweight composite construction utilising PRO-SET® Infusion epoxy is helping to make it possible. “The very first time we took the Whisper on the water, she foiled non-stop for four ... More
Bringing a ‘Vampire’ back from the dead with epoxy resin
It’s probably not the kind of vampire most people instinctively think of; the ‘Vampire’ we’re referring to is of course the British jet fighter developed by de Havilland during the Second World War. When talented and highly-skilled master carpenter Les Somner was challenged by a friend to restore one, he couldn’t resist taking it on. ... More
Your Projects: celebrating the very best of the boat building community
At epoxycraft we like nothing more than sharing your boat building stories, which is exactly what Your Projects are all about. From big to small projects, novice to professional boat builders — we welcome contributions from everyone, the only requirement is that you’re passionate about your craft and eager to share your experience. What makes a good ... More
Yamila: changing the face of luxury yachting
Peter Minder has never been afraid of doing things differently. In his 13 years as CEO of Bootswerft Heinrich AG, he has led the Swiss boatyard to design some of the most cutting-edge boats in the world. The latest addition is Yamila: a 13m high performance luxury daysailor, which – with the help of PRO-SET® epoxy ... More
The car built with WEST SYSTEM products
Check out the wonderful story of how car enthusiast Peter Warner rebuilt the body of an old Citroen 2CV with the help of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. Purchasing two large planks of wood felled from an ash tree, Peter got to work on Cretino – a name cleverly designed by rearranging the letters of a Citroen ... More
What’s the point of epoxy resins?
In a recent article, Watercraft magazine refers to West System International’s David Johnson as the ‘guru of the gooey stuff’. Find out why, as David guides you through which epoxy to use and how to get the most out of it, including his invaluable and easy-to-follow advice for first-time users. You can read the article in full ... More
How to keep your hardwood structure looking naturally beautiful with epoxy
How do you ensure that your hardwood structure doesn’t lose its natural sheen over the years? According to engineer and experienced boat restorer Mark Raynes, the answer is preparation, preparation, preparation – plus a good dose of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. You can’t beat the look of natural wood on a boat. On my MANCHESTER AND ... More
Constructing a 40ft catamaran with WEST SYSTEM epoxy
Work doesn’t necessarily slow down after retirement, as engineer Martin Ellison proved when he left his teaching post at the age of 59 and set about building his first boat. What started as some prompting from his wife to find a meaningful project evolved into the idea of building a 40ft catamaran. Martin tells epoxycraft ... More
Building a wooden boat that shines in the sun
When Sweden-based carpenter Paul Allsop first laid eyes on a cedar strip boat in Hawaii, it captured his imagination and he knew he had to build one of his own. It took him a further seven years to start but once he did, he couldn’t stop. Paul gives us an insight into his passion project. ... More
Renewing a tradition: building a watermill with epoxy
In the early 20th century, there were more than 60 watermills on the river Drava in Croatia. Destroyed in World War II, none were rebuilt – that is, until now. We find out what role epoxy has to play in bringing this impressive craft back to life. “It should be an awesome place to take ... More
The Ship of the Corn: reviving an ancient Croatian trade path
At 25 metres long and built of Slavonian oak and pine, the brand new Aurora Colapis – “Ship of the Corn” – is a striking sight. This reconstruction of a 19th century grain boat is set to bring an ancient Croatian trade path back to life and epoxy has a big role to play. “Up ... More
The story of a revolutionary wooden epoxy boat
Sailing legend and pioneer of marine epoxy Meade Gougeon recounts the uplifting tale of how Adagio was re-commissioned after five years in retirement. Adagio was the first large wooden boat entirely bonded together with epoxy using no permanent fastenings, which might be commonplace now but was revolutionary stuff in the 1970s. Find out how Adagio ... More
Epoxy: helping the UK reach for the stars
Steve Bennett started building rockets when he was just 12 years old. Today he’s the CEO of Starchaser Industries, which designs, builds and launches the UK’s biggest rockets – and WEST SYSTEM® epoxy plays a critical role. The first rockets that Steve Bennett built were probably no more than 20cm tall. “I had mixed results; ... More
An unexpected journey: landing the project of a life-time
When Dan Mill first came to Galway, Ireland, from New Zealand on a six month visa, he couldn’t have imagined what was in store for him. Before he knew it, Dan was working on one of the biggest boatbuilding projects of his life: building Nimmo, the 68ft cruiser. Four years and plenty of epoxy later, ... More
Building the ultimate ‘trailer sailer’ with epoxy
Celebrating sixty years since he first journeyed across the Atlantic in his self-built catamaran, James Wharram is creating his ‘dream boat’: Mana 24. Here, James’s co-designer Hanneke Boon tells us all about this commemorative self-build kit. Cornwall’s James Wharram is a bona fide celebrity in the catamaran community. In 1955 he claimed a place in ... More
WEST SYSTEM founders Meade and Jan Gougeon inducted into hall of fame
Courtesy of www.epoxyworks.com Meade and Jan Gougeon were inducted into The National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) in October of 2015. Meade and Jan, along with their brother Joel, founded Gougeon Brothers, Inc. in 1969. They were selected because of their pioneering work in the use of epoxies for boat construction and because each are ... More
Rescuing the rescuer: giving life to a lifeboat with epoxy
When engineer Mark Raynes found the 1924 MANCHESTER AND SALFORD lifeboat abandoned at Deganwy in North Wales, everyone warned him not to take her on. 14 years, tens of thousands of pounds and a lot of WEST SYSTEM epoxy later, her solid, shining timbers are set to re-enter the waters. “She was a basket case. ... More
How to repair double diagonal hull planks
The thought of renewing double diagonal hull planks strikes fear into the heart of many an expert in wooden boat repair. But Mark Raynes has repaired 3,300 ft of it on his antique lifeboat the MANCHESTER AND SALFORD. In this blog he explains why there’s no need to panic and gives you his top tips ... More
Happy campers: Creating innovative constructions with WEST SYSTEM epoxy
A romantic dinner under the stars. Is it a five-star hotel? A luxury cruise liner? No, it’s the classic teardrop camper, built using Canadian Red Cedar and WEST SYSTEM epoxy. With near-100% protection against water ingress, effectiveness down to 5ºC, and no need for post curing, WEST SYSTEM® epoxy is ideal for boats. The story, ... More
Blue Marlin: where tradition meets “this new, glued thinking”
Until very recently, the Wooden Boat Centre in Kotka, Finland showcased the painstaking restoration of Blue Marlin – a classic 1930s Twelve Metre Class yacht. WEST SYSTEM epoxy has played a crucial role in giving her a brand new lease of life. “When we first saw Blue Marlin, she had barely undergone any repair work ... More
Building a strip-plank kayak using WEST SYSTEM epoxy
To compliment his maritime experience, Gary Hunt wanted the chance to build a boat of his own. He joined the Boat Building Academy to start his boat building journey using WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. Firstly, tell us a little about yourself. My professional work has always been involved with the maritime environment, as an aviator for ... More
Fairlie 55: evoking William Fife’s age of luxury with modern epoxy techniques
In the late 19th and early 20th Century, William Fife’s yachts were the pinnacle of luxury. Today, the style and grace of these classic yachts lives on at Fairlie Yachts, which builds exquisite wooden yachts based on classic William Fife designs, all using modern epoxy construction techniques. Duncan Walker, Managing Director at Fairlie Yachts, tells ... More
Building a Whilly Tern with marine epoxy
Nick Wunderly always wanted an opportunity to work with his hands but it wasn’t until a chance conversation that he decided to use them for boat building. Further research led him to enrol onto the 38 week course at the Boat Building Academy, enabling him to personally craft a boat to perfection. Firstly, tell us ... More
Building “Tucana” with epoxy resin
Tim Harrison has always had a passion for the sea. So, of course, the next logical step was to enrol onto the 38 week course at the Boat Building Academy and produce his own high quality boat. Firstly, tell us a little about yourself I’m a retired Civil Servant with many years sailing experience based ... More
Diana: the boat that changed everything
Sometimes, a boat comes along that changes everything. This was the case with Diana, a classic sloop built by Walsteds Boatyard in 1998, which used modern epoxy construction techniques from top to bottom. It was a major breakthrough and proof that epoxy could help boat builders deliver faster, stiffer, stronger, more durable boats. epoxycraft asked ... More
‘Pirtuvene’ the traditional smuggler boat: Photo report
Veneveistämö J.Palviainen is a Finnish boatbuilding company based in Kärkölä, Finland. Their boatyard undertakes all kinds of renovation and maintenance including: electrical work, interior design, shaft mounting and coating fibreglass boats. From canoes to sailing boats, the boatyard relies on WEST SYSTEM® epoxy to keep their boats and their business afloat. In the first of ... More
Building “Willow” the Guillemot dinghy using marine epoxy
Traditional boat builder, Tim Loftus, believes that wooden boats have a quality that goes beyond functionality and market trends. When given the chance to work on a small project for one of his loyal customers, he was keen to produce something high-quality and long lasting, with that personal touch. Firstly, would you please tell us ... More
Why boats are only the beginning for epoxy resin
The strength, resilience and flexibility of epoxy resin mean it’s perfect for everything from crossbows to cracked hosepipes, says Hamish Cook, Technical Advisor at West System International. For over fifty years our heritage has been in boat building, using epoxy resin to transform the way that everything from wooden canoes to fibreglass yachts are built ... More
Carolina IV: creating a modern classic with epoxy
What happens when you combine classic design, the best hard woods and fittings, decades of boat-building knowledge and WEST SYSTEM® epoxy? The answer is a unique, luxury cruising sloop, the Carolina IV, which looks just as beautiful today as when it was built in 2000 by master boat builder Henning Bøgh of Walsteds Boatyard in ... More
Tenacious by name, tenacious by nature – building with epoxy
In 1990, the Jubilee Sailing Trust unveiled ambitious plans to build Tenacious, the world’s largest wooden tall ship, with a view of making it fully accessible to people with physical disabilities. The Trust invited John Birkett the position of construction manager as part of the team to oversee the ship’s construction, which took place between ... More
Making a stunning steering wheel using epoxy
After several long trips sat half twisted on his wooden seats, one hand constantly on the tiller, this boat blogger had had enough and said, “That’s it! I’m sitting up front from now on!” This blog details the switch from tiller controls to remote – as readers are guided through the steps taken to make ... More
Arbor 26: Where epoxy construction meets business excellence
Boatbuilder Jesse Loynes launched Arbor Yachts to create small luxury crafts that successfully combine speed and elegance. He put WEST SYSTEM® epoxy at the centre of his plans because it makes great business sense. “I remember seeing a lot of smaller, 20-25ft classic yachts that reminded me of VW Campervans,” says boatbuilder Jesse Loynes, when asked ... More
Creating the unconventional with epoxy resin infusion
Danish shipwright Jørgen Jensen prides himself on building boats that push boundaries and when he was commissioned to build the innovative Pi Boat entirely from carbon fibre, he knew PRO-SET® infusion epoxy had a central part to play. As an increasing number of tourists in the Danish capital Copenhagen will tell you, Pi Boat is ... More
One boat. A thousand stories.
The Lone Twin Boat Project used the latest yacht building methods, to turn wooden objects donated by people from across the South East into a seaworthy archive of stories and memories. Jesse Loynes, who worked alongside Mark Covell as one of the lead boat builders, tells epoxycraft about The Boat Project and how epoxy made ... More
WEST SYSTEM EPOXY WORKSHOP The essential hands-on course for any boat owner
Friday 17th April 2015 Are you looking for a practical way to increase your skills and knowledge of using epoxy? If so, West System International is hosting a special event for boat owners wanting to gain expert knowledge and hands-on experience of using WEST SYSTEM® epoxy to construct, repair and maintain their own boats. The ... More
Marine epoxy: breathing new life into Thames barges
Shipwright Ralph Springett was one of the first people in the UK to use WEST SYSTEM® epoxy products. Forty years later, as he focuses on repairing traditional Thames barges, marine epoxy remains his first choice for light, resilient and reliable repairs. Ralph Springett remembers well the first time he used epoxy resin, four decades ago ... More
Putting some heart into traditional boat designs – by Lockhart Boatbuilders
With sailing events taking place all year round, the Isle of Wight makes a perfect home for those with a passion for boat building. After moving to the island, James Lockhart describes how he and his friend Lukasz Stawski were inspired to set up a boat building business – redefining classic boat designs with modern ... More
Building an epoxy dinghy – in 25 hours
Is it possible to build a fully functional epoxy dinghy, in 25 hours with a budget of only $250? American boat enthusiast Brian strives to find out, giving readers a chance to pick up his hints and tips on getting speedy results from epoxy on a budget. With each stage of the purchasing and production ... More
Feature your boatbuilding project or epoxy boat repair on epoxycraft
epoxycraft is a community site so we would like you to take part. If you’ve built a boat or performed an epoxy boat repair using WEST SYSTEM® or PRO-SET® epoxy we can help turn it into an online-published article – completely free. What’s more, it only takes a short five minutes of your time to create an article. Fill out the Your ... More
WEST SYSTEM epoxy and the need for speed
When the boatyard founded by Danish boatbuilders Jonas Pedersen and Jakob Frost started to grow rapidly in the early 2000s, the pair decided to revive a Danish tradition – and design and build their own racing boat. Here, Jonas details their record-breaking quest for pure speed – and the key role that PRO-SET® epoxy products ... More
Boat Building Academy students launch the boats they have built from scratch
Boat Building Academy students launch the boats that they have spent 38 weeks building as part of an intensive training course at the school in Lyme Regis. At the end of last year, Boat Building Academy students celebrated their success as they finally launched the boats that they have spent 9 months building. Eleven students ... More
Building a 23ft Sailor with WEST SYSTEM epoxy – by Adrian Donovan
A 23ft trailer sailor with built in ballast tanks and buoyancy tanks, four berths, galley and a large roomy cockpit – Adrian Donovan’s most recent (and unnamed) commission leaves little to be desired. The Suffolk based boat builder is used to his boats being described as “drop dead gorgeous” and being complimented on his fine ... More
“This dragon boat is my obsession – I wanted the best epoxy.”
Igor Bzik spent nearly four years building DRACO, a wooden Dragon daysailer, having previously never built anything bigger than a guitar. As he tried to achieve perfection, the project took over his life – and epoxy products became central to realising his vision. Igor Bzik is no ordinary boatbuilder. For one thing, he lives 300km ... More
Starting a canoe business – by surfing the web
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. ... More
Bailey Boat Cat: an unusual epoxy user
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 ... More
Starting an artisan fishing business by Simon and Cat Holman
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 ... More
We ‘stick’ with epoxy
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 ... More
Sailing enthusiast trusts epoxy for his wooden boat repairs
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 ... More
“If you want top quality, epoxy is a no-brainer.”
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 ... More
Wooden boat repair – helping the boat to save herself
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 ... More
Using epoxy to build the perfect boat — by Sam Collins
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, ... More
The wooden boat repair and renovation — by Boatwork Ltd.
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 ... More
Fibreglass boat repair – from scraping paint to naming
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 ... More
My Herreshoff 12 ½ day sailing boat with WEST SYSTEM epoxy
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 ... More
epoxycraft sets sail: the launch of our new marine epoxy site
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 ... More
Building the dream boat with epoxy – by Joe Latimer and Alex Lyddon
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 ... More
New beginnings: starting again as a boat builder
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 ... More
It’s never too late to change career – a fresh start with WEST SYSTEM epoxy
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 ... More
Epoxy infusion on a grand scale: “We decided to go with a fully epoxy boat.”
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 ... More
Building my ‘Daydream’ with epoxy resin – by Keith McIlwain
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 ... More
TRADE SECRET Fibreglass boat repair: fix gelcoat blisters with Six10 epoxy
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 ... More
Building the Gloriana: epoxy’s role in history
Mark Edwards MBE explains how modern epoxy techniques have played a vital role in building historic replica boats – including the royal rowbarge Gloriana. Mark Edwards has shipbuilding in his blood. “I discovered recently that my family history had been traced back to the sixteenth century, and a lot of my ancestors were shipwrights in ... More
Saving a 1935 Harrison Butler sloop with epoxy resin
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 ... More
From plank of wood to i550 Sport Boat in 3 minutes using marine epoxy
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 ... More
Preparing for the Everglades challenge in a wooden epoxy sport boat
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