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
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
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
“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
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
If you need to know how to mend a puncture in fibreglass, check this out. This boat owner’s 17ft fibreglass boat sustained a major hit in a storm which caused a puncture hole in the hull. John used the WEST SYSTEM Mini Pack after it was recommended to him, to mend the hole himself – ... More
Is one or more of your lifeline stanchions coming away from its base? It’s a common problem but it’s vital that it’s fixed quickly. A repair with thickened WEST SYSTEM® epoxy and fibreglass will do an excellent job, as our technical expert Hamish explains. There’s a lot of stress placed on the humble stanchion. Often ... More
We loved this fun video made by Peter Brown documenting his first time forming and turning something made from epoxy. In the video, Peter shows how he created an epoxy bowl made from epoxy and old wires which were lying around his house. You can find lots more instructional videos on our you tube channel. More
We found yet again another useful video made by Andy Miller, teaching you how to give teak a professional wood finish. This easy to follow two-part series walks you through each stage step-by-step – the first part, linked here, begins by running through the materials you’ll need and how to use epoxy to prepare the ... More
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
We loved this great blog post from Peter Brown, which he posted after receiving countless requests to re-create these beautiful secret wood rings. Peter takes you through this step-by-step process, complete with clear photos as well as a link to a video documenting the entire process. If you’re feeling creative then why not try it ... More
We loved this great video post by Andy Miller as he conducts an experiment to find out if there’s any truth to the belief that polyester-based materials (such as gelcoat) won’t bond to epoxy. This is the first of a two-part video series clearly demonstrating the techniques Andy used for his challenge, following up with ... More
Are you used to standing in a dust cloud when you mix lightweight filler into your epoxy? There’s a handy technique to avoid that. David Johnson tells all. I have to be honest – no-one ever asks us how to go about mixing a filler into epoxy. In fact, I wondered briefly if it was ... More
Technical expert David Johnson gave this informative talk on his best methods for repairing fibreglass at METS back in November. This special Pecha Kucha presentation features 20 slides, each with 20 seconds per slide, won’t take you more than 7 minutes but could save you valuable time when you come to your next repair job. More
In his informative video, boatbuilder Jason Eke walks the aspiring coater through the process of sealing the deck and gunwales of a strip planked canoe with epoxy resin. Jason describes coating with the final layer of epoxy as one of the most rewarding parts of boatbuilding while he applies a layer of WEST SYSTEM 105 ... More
Boatbuilder Agur Paesuld is currently embarking on his latest boatbuilding venture, building a Wharram Tiki 21 catamaran – with nothing but the paper plans. ‘From Paper to Water’ is tagline of his blog, where he documents each stage of his build process. Through a variety of photos and time-lapse videos, we’re following Agur as he ... More
Priming with epoxy resin Canadian boat builder Jason Eke takes viewers through the stages of applying fibreglass cloth to a canoe using WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. In video 1 of this two video series, Jason applies the initial epoxy layer and discusses how to make the application process as problem-free as possible using the right tools and ... More
Discovering rot on board your canoe is never a good thing. But all isn’t lost. This blogger shares a video of his first time performing a wooden boat repair using an epoxy kit to scrape out and fill in the rotted area, to get his vessel is back to its original standard. More
Perfect for floating down stream and manoeuvring rapids, a drift boat is an essential build for anyone who loves spending time on the river. This video by Paul Butler offers a construction slideshow of the impressive wooden drift boat design ‘Clark Fork Drifter’ built using marine epoxy. Viewers can watch as Paul’s boat takes shape ... More
Own a fibreglass boat for any length of time and it’s likely you’ll end up with a few dings or scratches in the surface, or if you’re particularly unlucky even some larger structural damage. Fibreglass boat repairs can seem like a daunting process but, with the help of Boatwork’s Andy Miller’s step by step video, you ... More
Varnishing the wood trims on your boat is vital for keeping the moisture out of the wood and preventing oxidisation from exposure to UV rays. If wood is left unvarnished, moisture from dew and rain is drawn into the wood and becomes trapped causing it to swell and discolour. Varnishing also makes the wooden trimmings ... More
WEST SYSTEM Six10® epoxy is conveniently stored in a self-metering cartridge, providing permanent, waterproof results for all your adhesive needs – from filling holes and cracks, to bonding fiberglass and metal. Check out this video for more information and yet more reasons why WEST SYSTEM epoxy products could be right for you. Got a question about basic boat repairs? ... More
If you need to lay up a fibreglass canoe hole, the WEST SYSTEM® Vacuum Bag demonstration in this short two-minute video will offer you a viable solution. Our technical advisers briefly run through the materials you will need, and how to go about this fibreglass boat repair. You’ll be paddling your canoe again in no time! ... 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
Have you always wanted to build your own skimboard but don’t know where to start? Even if you have chosen the materials for your project, the next step to actually building a skimboard can be daunting. But don’t worry – we are here to help! This video will show you how to construct a carbon ... More
If you suspect that a seam or rivet is leaking on your aluminium boat, try following the simple seven-stage process demonstrated in this video. It could have you back on the water within a couple of hours! All you’ll need is a heat source, a wire brush and an epoxy repair pack. Something like the WEST SYSTEM® 655-K ... More
Don’t panic! It’s easily done and, thankfully, pretty easy to fix too. Follow the 11 steps in this video to see how you can use the WEST SYSTEM® 406 Colloidal Silica epoxy and several patches of reinforcing fabric cut to size to fill in holes in a fibreglass boat. Once you’ve painted it or applied ... More
The components are assembled, the joint is bonded… what’s the next stage of your wooden boat repair? Before moving on to final finishing, don’t forget to apply a protective barrier coat to your wooden surfaces. Doing so will provide an effective moisture barrier and a smooth base for final finishing. Your WEST SYSTEM® Roller Covers ... More
Sometime after the fairing and shaping stage of you epoxy boat repair, but before final coating, it might be an idea to give the joints in your structure extra reinforcement and abrasion resistance by applying glass cloth. WEST SYSTEM® reinforcing fabrics are specially designed to do this and can be applied in multiple layers, or ‘laminated’ ... More
The demonstration shows how to improve the strength and reliability of any joint by efficiently installing a screw using WEST SYSTEM® epoxy. Some joints need to be able to carry a heavy load and the last thing you want is them letting you down at a crucial point in the race or miles away from the ... More
The bonding stage is where your project will really start to come together. A combination of good surface preparation and the right adhesive will help make a joint strong. The so-called ‘two-step bonding’ process is the best bonding technique to use in most situations. That’s because it makes the epoxy penetrate the bonding surface to the ... More
So, you’ve got your joint pretty much assembled. Now you need to make sure it blends with the surrounding surfaces. This is where final fairing and the epoxy filler comes in. A mixture of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy and a low-density filler is just the job for fairing. It involves filling and shaping low or uneven areas so they ... More
Have you already dispensed and mixed your epoxy and are now ready to start bonding or fairing? Watch our video to find out how to add epoxy fillers to get the ideal epoxy consistency for your purpose. The video also shows you examples of the four main consistencies of thickened epoxy and the applications each is suited ... More
Whether you’re using large amounts of epoxy or small, getting the right ratio of resin to hardener is vital to ensuring a proper cure. Though it is possible to dispense epoxy using weight or volume measures, you might find it easier and more convenient to use the specially-calibrated WEST SYSTEM® 301 Mini Pumps. These pumps are designed ... More
What’s the right way to apply fibreglass cloth or tape to provide reinforcement and abrasion resistance? This video shows how fabric and coats of WEST SYSTEM® epoxy are used to fill the weave of the fabric in one continuous operation. Ready to try it at home? Click here to find your nearest stockist. More
Before every epoxy application comes the crucial step of dispensing the quantities of resin and hardener you need. Getting this right will mean you’re well on the way to achieving a high-strength WEST SYSTEM® epoxy solid. Remember, curing epoxy generates heat so be sure not to leave the dispensed epoxy to stand for the full pot life ... More