Because you have to live with the stench of the polyester while you work
with it, in addition to the fact that it does not stick as well to plywood.
You can get epoxy with little or no odor.

MylesJ

This sort of thread always interests me. A long time ago I built boats with
polyester (and fg tape) using weldwood when I had to glue two pieces of wood
together. It was the best available and a lot of boats (including several
thousand Mirror Dinghies) were put together this way. Epoxy is clearly a
superior product and, if it doesn't stink as badly, is somewhat worse when
you get sensitized to it-gloves are a necessity and a well ventilated
workplace is a good idea (epoxy fumes are heavier than air and will
dissipate out a cracked garage door).

The issue which seems to be driving this line of inquiry is the relative
cost of the two products (which doesn't amount to much). Personally, I find
that my major investment in boat building is time and that even the best
materials make up a small portion of the total cost (figuring time and
material) of a boat. Accordingly, I use the best materials I can find and
ignore the additional incremental cost of first class material. To that end,
I currently build with marine grade Meranti plywood-about 2/3's the cost of
okume, and 3 times the cost of luan underlayerment. At least I can be pretty
sure my boat won't rot or delaminate in 2 or 3 years.

JohnT

_____

From:bolger@yahoogroups. com[mailto:bolger@yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of
Myles Swift
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 1:24 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups. com
Subject: [bolger] Re: Epoxy over polyester?

Because you have to live with the stench of the polyester while you work
with it, in addition to the fact that it does not stick as well to plywood.
You can get epoxy with little or no odor.

MylesJ

Bill makes an important point. If polyester were as effective, people would use it.

With regard to longevity, I know that Jim Michalak has at least his Birdwatcher built many years ago with polyester resin. He says his habit of storing his boats indoors contributes to their long life. I believe him.

But I also know none of these resins survives well in direct sun. They all need protection.

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups. com, "Bill Kreamer" <kreamers@.. .> wrote:

>...Lately, I can't remember anyone building at home with polyester...

My Winsprint is about 16 years old, epoxy glued and w/ a polyester
bottom. With no special care it's only starting to strip a little
fabric here or there just now.
You could say I got my money's worth. Still, apart from really cheap
experiments, I've used epoxy ever since. The ease of having just one
goo for every job is rather nice.

On Sep 1, 2011, at 1:02 PM, daschultz2000 wrote:

>
> Bill makes an important point. If polyester were as effective,
> people would use it.
>
> With regard to longevity, I know that Jim Michalak has at least his
> Birdwatcher built many years ago with polyester resin. He says his
> habit of storing his boats indoors contributes to their long life.
> I believe him.
>
> But I also know none of these resins survives well in direct sun.
> They all need protection.
>

The winter before last I almost bought a 35 ft. ketch she was 41 years
old and in pristine condition. I went over her and could find no
problems with wood or glass. She was glassed inside and out, Strip built
absolutly beautiful. WE couldn't get to gether on price and I wish I
had been able to pay more.
In the 1966 I bought a Japanese built Yokohama 21 that was built in
1956 she was polyester and glass over painted on the inside no glass or
resin inside. Our family grew and she got to small. I sold her to two
women and they kept her closed up tight setting in a boat yard. At 30
years old she need some minor work and was burned up at age 35. Her
glass was still stuck tight but she rotted from the inside. I had kept
her under cover with ventilation for and aft during the winters but she
was uncovered all during the Virginia sailing months. So, If I were
buying a boat and she was built of good lumber and polyester coated that
likely would not stop me. If I were building one and was using big box
plywood I would spend the money for epoxy. If I were building from the
best lumber I might build without glass covering of any kind.
Good wood and good paint and good maintenance and care and a boat
will likely last 30 or 40 years anyway. The problem is, I am not a good
enough carpenter to build a boat without glass to cover my louzy
fits. Doug

On 09/01/2011 05:17 PM, Mark Albanese wrote:
>
> My Winsprint is about 16 years old, epoxy glued and w/ a polyester
> bottom. With no special care it's only starting to strip a little
> fabric here or there just now.
> You could say I got my money's worth. Still, apart from really cheap
> experiments, I've used epoxy ever since. The ease of having just one
> goo for every job is rather nice.
>
> On Sep 1, 2011, at 1:02 PM, daschultz2000 wrote:
>
> >
> > Bill makes an important point. If polyester were as effective,
> > people would use it.
> >
> > With regard to longevity, I know that Jim Michalak has at least his
> > Birdwatcher built many years ago with polyester resin. He says his
> > habit of storing his boats indoors contributes to their long life.
> > I believe him.
> >
> > But I also know none of these resins survives well in direct sun.
> > They all need protection.
> >
>
>

Because you have to live with the stench of the polyester while you work
with it, in addition to the fact that it does not stick as well to plywood.
You can get epoxy with little or no odor.

MylesJ

This sort of thread always interests me. A long time ago I built boats with
polyester (and fg tape) using weldwood when I had to glue two pieces of wood
together. It was the best available and a lot of boats (including several
thousand Mirror Dinghies) were put together this way. Epoxy is clearly a
superior product and, if it doesn't stink as badly, is somewhat worse when
you get sensitized to it-gloves are a necessity and a well ventilated
workplace is a good idea (epoxy fumes are heavier than air and will
dissipate out a cracked garage door).

The issue which seems to be driving this line of inquiry is the relative
cost of the two products (which doesn't amount to much). Personally, I find
that my major investment in boat building is time and that even the best
materials make up a small portion of the total cost (figuring time and
material) of a boat. Accordingly, I use the best materials I can find and
ignore the additional incremental cost of first class material. To that end,
I currently build with marine grade Meranti plywood-about 2/3's the cost of
okume, and 3 times the cost of luan underlayerment. At least I can be pretty
sure my boat won't rot or delaminate in 2 or 3 years.

JohnT

_____

From:bolger@yahoogroups. com[mailto:bolger@yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of
Myles Swift
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 1:24 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups. com
Subject: [bolger] Re: Epoxy over polyester?

Because you have to live with the stench of the polyester while you work
with it, in addition to the fact that it does not stick as well to plywood.
You can get epoxy with little or no odor.

MylesJ

Bill makes an important point. If polyester were as effective, people would use it.

With regard to longevity, I know that Jim Michalak has at least his Birdwatcher built many years ago with polyester resin. He says his habit of storing his boats indoors contributes to their long life. I believe him.

But I also know none of these resins survives well in direct sun. They all need protection.

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups. com, "Bill Kreamer" <kreamers@.. .> wrote:

>...Lately, I can't remember anyone building at home with polyester...

My Winsprint is about 16 years old, epoxy glued and w/ a polyester
bottom. With no special care it's only starting to strip a little
fabric here or there just now.
You could say I got my money's worth. Still, apart from really cheap
experiments, I've used epoxy ever since. The ease of having just one
goo for every job is rather nice.

On Sep 1, 2011, at 1:02 PM, daschultz2000 wrote:

>
> Bill makes an important point. If polyester were as effective,
> people would use it.
>
> With regard to longevity, I know that Jim Michalak has at least his
> Birdwatcher built many years ago with polyester resin. He says his
> habit of storing his boats indoors contributes to their long life.
> I believe him.
>
> But I also know none of these resins survives well in direct sun.
> They all need protection.
>

The winter before last I almost bought a 35 ft. ketch she was 41 years
old and in pristine condition. I went over her and could find no
problems with wood or glass. She was glassed inside and out, Strip built
absolutly beautiful. WE couldn't get to gether on price and I wish I
had been able to pay more.
In the 1966 I bought a Japanese built Yokohama 21 that was built in
1956 she was polyester and glass over painted on the inside no glass or
resin inside. Our family grew and she got to small. I sold her to two
women and they kept her closed up tight setting in a boat yard. At 30
years old she need some minor work and was burned up at age 35. Her
glass was still stuck tight but she rotted from the inside. I had kept
her under cover with ventilation for and aft during the winters but she
was uncovered all during the Virginia sailing months. So, If I were
buying a boat and she was built of good lumber and polyester coated that
likely would not stop me. If I were building one and was using big box
plywood I would spend the money for epoxy. If I were building from the
best lumber I might build without glass covering of any kind.
Good wood and good paint and good maintenance and care and a boat
will likely last 30 or 40 years anyway. The problem is, I am not a good
enough carpenter to build a boat without glass to cover my louzy
fits. Doug

On 09/01/2011 05:17 PM, Mark Albanese wrote:
>
> My Winsprint is about 16 years old, epoxy glued and w/ a polyester
> bottom. With no special care it's only starting to strip a little
> fabric here or there just now.
> You could say I got my money's worth. Still, apart from really cheap
> experiments, I've used epoxy ever since. The ease of having just one
> goo for every job is rather nice.
>
> On Sep 1, 2011, at 1:02 PM, daschultz2000 wrote:
>
> >
> > Bill makes an important point. If polyester were as effective,
> > people would use it.
> >
> > With regard to longevity, I know that Jim Michalak has at least his
> > Birdwatcher built many years ago with polyester resin. He says his
> > habit of storing his boats indoors contributes to their long life.
> > I believe him.
> >
> > But I also know none of these resins survives well in direct sun.
> > They all need protection.
> >
>
>