So tonight when i got home from work i decided to pull the rubrail off my boat and see just what i was getting myself into. Well long story short the removing turned into literally ripping off the railing and i can clearly see what needs to be done. My hull is a 1978 Sanger SuperJet at 18' and my question is how much resin do i need to cap my hull? i plan on using epoxy resin so i know it will be costly and since i am running on a limmited budget i dont want to buy more than i need to. This is not my first time with firberglass work so there will little waste as far as unused resin, i just dont want to spend money on materials that will go unused. Also it  seems that the general concensus for resin is to go with the west systems set up. so i am thinking of going with them is there anything i should get in conjuntion with the resin and hardener? i have read about spheres(cant exactly remember) and understand they really control viscosity and kick time but are they a necessity? Any info is very much appreciated and I am kinda looking for some quick responses since i am planning on ordering the supplies to start this thing this week.

Thanks Again


RC

I,m curious why you are using epoxy?  It is much more expensive ( as you know) than Polyester.  It's also a different material than the original and I don't know if they bond well together.  Also once you have ground the cap area and glassed it and block it out, what are you using for a sanding primmer, Epoxy or a good automotive Polyester. fresh epoxy and new poly might not work.  I'd save time and $ sticking to poly.  PS If you are just filling the crack I wouldn't.  The typical cap is about 4" wide and requires quite a bit of grinding in order to get though the seam down to the glass they bond the top & bottom together with.  They do that so you don't have any pockets of air that will eventually cause a crack. As I recall B&K boat repair used like two layers of 6oz. mat and ground that out prior to priming. Glass fillers were not used.  If you do need a filler the cabasil is a good way to go. The spheres you peek of are Microballons and they are fine but you need a bunch of it to get the resin thick.  Sanger is a great looking boat when it's capped have fun and good luck.

does not stink isnt that a disadvantage??

I,m curious why you are using epoxy?  It is much more expensive ( as you know) than Polyester.  It's also a different material than the original and I don't know if they bond well together.  Also once you have ground the cap area and glassed it and block it out, what are you using for a sanding primmer, Epoxy or a good automotive Polyester. fresh epoxy and new poly might not work.  I'd save time and $ sticking to poly.  PS If you are just filling the crack I wouldn't.  The typical cap is about 4" wide and requires quite a bit of grinding in order to get though the seam down to the glass they bond the top & bottom together with.  They do that so you don't have any pockets of air that will eventually cause a crack. As I recall B&K boat repair used like two layers of 6oz. mat and ground that out prior to priming. Glass fillers were not used.  If you do need a filler the cabasil is a good way to go. The spheres you peek of are Microballons and they are fine but you need a bunch of it to get the resin thick.  Sanger is a great looking boat when it's capped have fun and good luck.

WIzard  i am useing the epoxy for a few reasons, one is that it is water proof where as poly isnt so i can leave it bare and if i gets wet i wont really have to worry about the water and drying it out when i go to work it again. also i am using for the strength aspect, it is to my understanding that epoxy resin has more strength than polyester.as far as what it takes to cap the hull.... i know exactly what it takes to do it and do it right  and have no doubts i will do it properly. like i said i am no stranger to fiberglass. as far as the paint is concerned once all the capping is done i will be having the boat re gelled white from the outter strakes up and over and the onlr reason i am doint this is becauise i have/want to have the deck re gelled because the origional is cracking and a friend of my dads  own/opersates a boat repair shop and is giving me a killer deal on the gel work other wise i would use a good sanding primer and paint the boat just as i would any of the cars that i work on.


RC

Hey little late, but wanted to check with you on how your capping job turned out lookin to do mine soon to