RE: [bolger] Ply epoxy construction . . . high maintenance crap? ??
You're right Bill, there's a lot of prejudice against plywood/fibreglass
boats. A lot of the old boats covered with polyester resin delaminated, and
to the general public, fibreglass covering is all the same thing. And there
are enough quick and dirty boats out there that keep the image alive.
WoodenBoat did an article a few years ago comparing maintenance costs for
boats built of different materials, and proved to their satisfaction that
epoxy encapsulated wood was the lowest maintenance material. I'm working
from memory here, but I'll dig out the article later.
The WEST System folks have done a lot of good marketing -- you might stress
the fact that your boat is a WEST System boat. Also don't call it sheathed,
call it composite construction, epoxy encapsulated, or something else out of
the latest literature. You might at least get the potential buyer to keep
talking so you can give him the facts of the matter.
Good luck, don't let them bother you. Chances are most contacts,
particularly via the internet, are just tire-kickers anyway. A genuine
prospect should at least be willing to have a look.
Jamie
-----Original Message-----
From: Samson Family [mailto:Bill.Samson@...]
Sent: July 13, 2001 10:33 AM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bolger] Ply epoxy construction . . . high maintenance crap???
Hi guys,
As you probably know, I'm trying to sell my Chebacco - a ply/glass/epoxy
boat.
As YOU all know, epoxy sheathed boats are undoubtedly longer-lived than
GRP - no osmosis problems, for starters. Will any potential customers
believe this? Will they hell! Here's a typical quote:
that your Chebacco will require more maintenance and >nourishment than I can
give.
opportunity to counter the propaganda that has been spread over the years by
the GRP industry.
Maintenance isn't an issue in a glass-epoxy-sheathed plywood hull.
Sylvester is STILL (after 5 seasons) on her first paint job. It's getting a
little chalky in places, and probably a freshen up would be a good thing in
the next year or two.
My annual maintenance consists of rubbing down the gun'l rubbing strips and
mast and freshening up the varnish. The real pain in the ass is the
antifouling - but you need that with any boat.
Anyway, you'll gather that I'm a firm believer (on the basis of 15 years
experience of epoxy coating ply hulls) that epoxy sheathed ply needs LESS
maintenance than GRP - but I suppose it'll be a long time before that
filters down to most boat users.
Now I don't mind somebody rejecting my boat on the basis that it's got too
big a sail, or is butt-ugly, but it fills me with anger when such
disinformation dominates the thinking of the 'great unwashed'.
Sorry to sound so snobby, but you know what I mean . . .
Thoughts?
Bill Samson
PS - May osmosis descend upon them all . . .
Bolger rules!!!
- no cursing, flaming, trolling, or spamming
- no flogging dead horses
- add something: take "thanks!" and "ditto!" posts off-list.
- stay on topic and punctuate
- add your comments at the TOP and SIGN your posts
- To order plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA,
01930, Fax: (978) 282-1349
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject tohttp://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
boats. A lot of the old boats covered with polyester resin delaminated, and
to the general public, fibreglass covering is all the same thing. And there
are enough quick and dirty boats out there that keep the image alive.
WoodenBoat did an article a few years ago comparing maintenance costs for
boats built of different materials, and proved to their satisfaction that
epoxy encapsulated wood was the lowest maintenance material. I'm working
from memory here, but I'll dig out the article later.
The WEST System folks have done a lot of good marketing -- you might stress
the fact that your boat is a WEST System boat. Also don't call it sheathed,
call it composite construction, epoxy encapsulated, or something else out of
the latest literature. You might at least get the potential buyer to keep
talking so you can give him the facts of the matter.
Good luck, don't let them bother you. Chances are most contacts,
particularly via the internet, are just tire-kickers anyway. A genuine
prospect should at least be willing to have a look.
Jamie
-----Original Message-----
From: Samson Family [mailto:Bill.Samson@...]
Sent: July 13, 2001 10:33 AM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bolger] Ply epoxy construction . . . high maintenance crap???
Hi guys,
As you probably know, I'm trying to sell my Chebacco - a ply/glass/epoxy
boat.
As YOU all know, epoxy sheathed boats are undoubtedly longer-lived than
GRP - no osmosis problems, for starters. Will any potential customers
believe this? Will they hell! Here's a typical quote:
>Billvery interesting.
>Thank you for giving me the opportunity of reviewing your website - it was
>I've decided not to view the boat, not because of a lack of enthusiasm, butmy business commitments and >young family take up most of my time. I feel
that your Chebacco will require more maintenance and >nourishment than I can
give.
>Best regards - etcI think we owe it to ourselves as builders of this kind of boat take every
opportunity to counter the propaganda that has been spread over the years by
the GRP industry.
Maintenance isn't an issue in a glass-epoxy-sheathed plywood hull.
Sylvester is STILL (after 5 seasons) on her first paint job. It's getting a
little chalky in places, and probably a freshen up would be a good thing in
the next year or two.
My annual maintenance consists of rubbing down the gun'l rubbing strips and
mast and freshening up the varnish. The real pain in the ass is the
antifouling - but you need that with any boat.
Anyway, you'll gather that I'm a firm believer (on the basis of 15 years
experience of epoxy coating ply hulls) that epoxy sheathed ply needs LESS
maintenance than GRP - but I suppose it'll be a long time before that
filters down to most boat users.
Now I don't mind somebody rejecting my boat on the basis that it's got too
big a sail, or is butt-ugly, but it fills me with anger when such
disinformation dominates the thinking of the 'great unwashed'.
Sorry to sound so snobby, but you know what I mean . . .
Thoughts?
Bill Samson
PS - May osmosis descend upon them all . . .
Bolger rules!!!
- no cursing, flaming, trolling, or spamming
- no flogging dead horses
- add something: take "thanks!" and "ditto!" posts off-list.
- stay on topic and punctuate
- add your comments at the TOP and SIGN your posts
- To order plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA,
01930, Fax: (978) 282-1349
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject tohttp://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/