In 40 years of building boats, have personally used all the brands of epoxy in the survey and I can say that my least favorite is West. Perhaps they have changed but the formula, back when I tried it, was far inferior. It tended to blush much more than the others and the 5:1 ratio is more trouble to get right. Finally, it is just as expensive as the really good epoxy, that being System3 Silvertip. That's the brand I voted for. It uses a 2:1 mix ratio and I have never seen it blush. The thing that really sets S3 apart is the fact that you can sand it an hour after it begins to kick - not three or four hours as with other epoxies.
I have no complaints with the West System. The pumps make dispensing and ratios easy and the multiple hardener varieties function as promised. The 207 added to the 105 epoxy resin results in a clear epoxy with no blush. The additives for fairing, filling and filleting also perform well. I’ve never been tempted to use another brand because I’ve been totally satisfied with the entire line.
I've always ordered my epoxy from B&B Yacht Design. They must order it in bulk because it comes to me in unmarked jugs. Whatever it is, it's the 2:1 type and hardener is offered in at least two "speeds"; fast and slow. I've never had a problem with it.
I fill graduated syringes with resin and hardener so I can mix batches as small as 1.5 cc. That has been the biggest breakthrough in epoxy conservation for me. I fill several syringes at once so I make one mess for many batches.
I've used WEST for over forty years, never found the blush a big issue to deal with and now use 207 hardener often. I like the pumps, I've not had it crystallize like I had with MAS when I tried it many years ago. With the WEST pumps, I mix small batches easily from one oz on up. I have, I confess, measured and marked the pump plungers to half and quarter marks and have mixed 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz etc batches for really small jobs with great success and no failures.
For small batches I use a digital scale and measure out by weight. I found the densities of resin and hardener by test. Minimizes having to try to measure small volumes. Never had it fail to cure properly.
We like the TotalBoat THIXO thickened epoxy system that comes in a 2 part caulk cartridge. Easy to dispense and the unmixed tube stores for quite a while. The mixing tip does all the guesswork. THIXO comes in Low Viscosity, Thickened, THIXO Flex and THIXO Wood which is wood colored.
My go-to is West but I recently used Bramptons Marine fast cure epoxy for an emergency repair and was VERY happy with it. This stuff cures underwater. I had an active leak (from previous unknown tsunami hull damage, pre-me) and first used Splash Zone epoxy to stop the leak from inside the hull. Splash Zone is impossible to work with in the air, it’s like a big tarball when mixed and you can’t separate your hands. Divers use it for external, in-the-water repairs, and it is much easier to form when it is in the water. Still had some weeping after multiple Splash Zone applications, but the Bramptons took care of that with one application. I will include Bramptons in my epoxy arsenal going forward.
In 40 years of building boats, have personally used all the brands of epoxy in the survey and I can say that my least favorite is West. Perhaps they have changed but the formula, back when I tried it, was far inferior. It tended to blush much more than the others and the 5:1 ratio is more trouble to get right. Finally, it is just as expensive as the really good epoxy, that being System3 Silvertip. That's the brand I voted for. It uses a 2:1 mix ratio and I have never seen it blush. The thing that really sets S3 apart is the fact that you can sand it an hour after it begins to kick - not three or four hours as with other epoxies.
U.S. Composites. Working good so far.
I have no complaints with the West System. The pumps make dispensing and ratios easy and the multiple hardener varieties function as promised. The 207 added to the 105 epoxy resin results in a clear epoxy with no blush. The additives for fairing, filling and filleting also perform well. I’ve never been tempted to use another brand because I’ve been totally satisfied with the entire line.
Fiberglass Composites Incorporated (FGCI). Great company local to Tampa Bay and they make a great epoxy product.
I've always ordered my epoxy from B&B Yacht Design. They must order it in bulk because it comes to me in unmarked jugs. Whatever it is, it's the 2:1 type and hardener is offered in at least two "speeds"; fast and slow. I've never had a problem with it.
I fill graduated syringes with resin and hardener so I can mix batches as small as 1.5 cc. That has been the biggest breakthrough in epoxy conservation for me. I fill several syringes at once so I make one mess for many batches.
I've used WEST for over forty years, never found the blush a big issue to deal with and now use 207 hardener often. I like the pumps, I've not had it crystallize like I had with MAS when I tried it many years ago. With the WEST pumps, I mix small batches easily from one oz on up. I have, I confess, measured and marked the pump plungers to half and quarter marks and have mixed 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz etc batches for really small jobs with great success and no failures.
I use Bote Cote 2:1 mix in Australia tried West difficult with 5:1 ratio
Other most helpful situation in clean up used common vinegar. Smell etc vastly reduced apart from the fact that it really works
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For small batches I use a digital scale and measure out by weight. I found the densities of resin and hardener by test. Minimizes having to try to measure small volumes. Never had it fail to cure properly.
We like the TotalBoat THIXO thickened epoxy system that comes in a 2 part caulk cartridge. Easy to dispense and the unmixed tube stores for quite a while. The mixing tip does all the guesswork. THIXO comes in Low Viscosity, Thickened, THIXO Flex and THIXO Wood which is wood colored.
I use “East System” epoxy
No sanding blush…
All good
My go-to is West but I recently used Bramptons Marine fast cure epoxy for an emergency repair and was VERY happy with it. This stuff cures underwater. I had an active leak (from previous unknown tsunami hull damage, pre-me) and first used Splash Zone epoxy to stop the leak from inside the hull. Splash Zone is impossible to work with in the air, it’s like a big tarball when mixed and you can’t separate your hands. Divers use it for external, in-the-water repairs, and it is much easier to form when it is in the water. Still had some weeping after multiple Splash Zone applications, but the Bramptons took care of that with one application. I will include Bramptons in my epoxy arsenal going forward.