In the lead up to the summer season, the boatyard services team at Suffolk Yacht Harbour is working around the clock on maintenance and repair jobs, ensuring the incredible boats that come through their doors are ready to go back on the water. Suffolk Yacht Harbour (SYH) is the leading independent marina on east coast ... More
1 boat. 60 days. 3,800 miles. Four friends are aiming to do something extraordinary. To be the first crew to row non-stop from mainland Europe to mainland South America in a pure class boat. The challenge The normal Atlantic challenge starts in the Canary Islands and finishes in the Caribbean. Instead, Jim, Justin, Rob and ... More
Castagnola Shipyard has launched the elegant, custom-made Heritage 9.9. Able to reach a cruising speed of 34 knots, the 10.91m custom-built luxury yacht is a fine example of what happens when you mix modern CNC with traditional Italian wooden boat building heritage. We were thrilled to speak to Master Shipwright, Gabriele Maestri, to talk about ... More
Image credit: Alec Smith – https://www.imagemundi.com Craig Palmer, based in Worthing, is looking at opportunities to bring the marine industry together in a collaborative way. In the middle of building a sustainable ocean-going yacht Class Xero, he says that the industry is rightly under a lot of pressure to change, he’s ready to take the ... More
Oarsome Chance, the Gosport based charity, has been using WEST SYSTEM epoxy® to aid in a classic engine refit. It’s ‘fixing-up’ the lifeboat which was used in the award-winning documentary Life After Pi. The short film told the story of how a visual effects company won an Academy Award for its groundbreaking work on the ... More
RS Electric Boats, the sister company to RS Sailing, unveiled its electric RIB earlier this year, a boat that’s said to be the highest level of sustainable construction of any boat in its sector. Constructed with sustainability as its primary focus alongside zero emissions, Pulse58 is destined to challenge habits, spark passion amongst its users ... More
Completing the hull and making a spinnaker chute Keen to build himself a small sailing dinghy, retired land surveyor Steve Goodchild turned his spare room into a workshop and began to assemble a 16ft Stornoway design using the strip plank method. The idea was that ‘Barnacle’ would be capable of dinghy ‘cruising’, a popular pastime ... More
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Back in 2015, we ran a story on fixing rudders, written by 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 undertaking. Work-planning and choosing ... More
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Boatbuilder Paul Gomm, a regular user of WEST SYSTEM epoxy, has been doing some great repair work on 2.4m Class Stradivari Mk IV. We were lucky enough to see the repair as it progressed. The boat has a fibreglass keel, which had suffered a form of osmotic damage through a combination of water and anti-freeze. ... More
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The versatility of WEST SYSTEM epoxy allowed keen sailor Jaanus Tamme to create prototype pulley blocks from a back-pack ‘factory’ whilst attending regattas. Now he has a global distribution network. Based outside the city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, keen racing sailor Jaanus Tamme has developed a remarkable and award-winning range of pulley blocks ... More
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
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
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
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
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
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
Respect for clients, associates and suppliers is the cornerstone of Ocean Marine’s successful and growing business. The company, which was founded by Mr. Haris Kyriakides in Limassol, Cyprus in 1990, supplies leading marine products, brands and services to customers across the island, including WEST SYSTEM® epoxy products. After I came back from studying business in ... More
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
We came across this great video posted by HF Industri & Marine showing how their vacuum expert Ben Denham and a good friend made 2 vacuum infused fibreglass/carbon PRO-SET epoxy kayaks in the space of a weekend! The video takes you through the entire process start to finish so is definitely worth a watch. More
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
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
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
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
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
Why has foiling become so popular over recent years? Our very own David Johnson explains why foiling has added a seventh gear in speed and excitement to competitive sailing. It’s been a great summer for British hydrofoiling. Not only did Maguire Boats’ Exocet Moth take almost every place on the leader board at this year’s ... More
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
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
We’re still enjoying a bit of late summer sunshine but it’s never too early to plan your end-of-season projects. To that end, our very own epoxy guru, David Johnson talks us through how he built a rudder for his Sandhopper boat last winter. This is the second development of the thin section MK 1 version ... More
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Epifanes and W. Heeren & Zoon, Dutch distributor for WEST SYSTEM® epoxy, have sponsored eight young students ready to compete in the annual Dong Energy Young Solar Challenge in the Netherlands. The Young Solar Challenge is an opportunity for schools in the Netherlands to teach children between the age of 14 and 18 about practical ... More
What happens when you combine classic design, the best hardwoods 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 boatbuilder Henning Bøgh of Walsteds Boatyard in Denmark. “I’ve ... More
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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, ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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… ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... More
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
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
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
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