Bill, Thanks for the reply. West System believes that you can put gelcoat over their epoxy. Albeit, with the right preparation. But, I'm exploring the idea of using a Linear polyurethane (LP) paint such as Awlgrip to coat my epoxied centerboard. That is, If I can buy a small enough quantity. The stuff is really expensive. But supposedly it's as durable as gelcoat and it can be brushed on. If I can create a good color match, being able to use a plasticized paint over my epoxy repair work would be ideal. And, from what I've read, epoxy is far stronger than polyester and forms a superior moisture barrier. Plus, it's so easy to work with. --Bob M-15 Sequel On Apr 16, 2005, at 9:44 PM, BILLAMICASR@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 4/16/2005 1:23:14 PM Pacific Standard Time, bobo4u@qwest.net writes: I'm a little concerned that the gelcoat may not stick to the epoxy-based repair. Hi Bob Not that I'm an expert! However, Don Casey's book "Hull & Deck Repair" says dont use an epoxy if the finish is going to be gelcoat. Instead use a polyester resin as gelcoat will not bond well with Epoxy. My plan is to fillet the holes I'm making using Epoxy thickened with colloidal Silica and then seal the ladder & mount in a bed of polysulfide. For the holes left from the previous mount, I'll fill them with Fiberglass and polyester resin and cap them off with gelcoat. Don Casey says it's best to let a woman approve the gelcoat color match. Or if that's not possible, develop a "good enough" attitude. I got West System Epoxy "how to" manual today. It covers much of what Don Casey says as well as goes into more on the Epoxy, while Don's book deals with much more, such as sealants and polyester resins. Both books age worth buying. Bill M-17 "Tipperary" _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats