TOPIC:

Hi everyone, I`m just starting to strip the inside of my recently aquired Woofy down to bare wood. Unfortunately in recent years I have become alergic to epoxy resin, can`t go near the stuff! Can anybody reccomend an alternative to use as a base coating prior to varnishing. Cheers Alan.

Hi Alan,



Welcome to the Albacore forum! Were do you sail and what is your boat number?



You can use Blakes Woodseal which is very good, but it does eveporate so don't leave the lid off, it is also expensive. As a cheaper alternative you can also use 2k car primer from you local car paint shop, i use this on top of epoxy on hulls before i use hi build.



Another alternative is using a 2 pack varnish which will also be hard wearing. I think some people use normal varnish on top so it can be recoated but i am no expert on varnish. Look through the forum for varnishing discussions.



You probably wouldn't want to epoxy the tanks and the centreboard case anyway as they can flex.



Hope this helps



Phil Smith

Northern rep

A6504"Nemesis"(woof)

Hi Phil, Thanks for the info. My recent purchase is 6960 but I have previously sailed 5185 at Scaling Dam for the last 20 years. I`ve never used Blakes woodeal, is it anything like Universal Clear Primer, I`ve used that a few times. I was hoping there might be something that would provide a bit of strength as well as priming but I might be asking too much. I`ve just stated stripping so I`ve plenty of time to make a decision. Many thanks Cheers Alan - 6960

Hi Alan,



The blakes woodseal I used on my centreboard case dried hard as nails. I'm not sure about universal clear primer though. As i mentioned before you don't want to epoxy any of the ply as it will flex. The only thing i would consider epoxying on the inside is the exposed parts of the hull. If you require the boat to be stiffened then expoxing the outside of the hull is one option or adding floor battens is another. Have a read through some of the prevoius posts on this matter. Personally I have a MK1 woof and it feels pretty solid to me with no floor battens but saying that the outside of the hull has 3 coats of epoxy! I know some people don't even bother doing that and put on a few coats of 2k car primer, that stiffens it up!



Hope this helps!



Will you be joining us at the internationals in Largs next year?



Phil

A6504 "Shadow"

Hi Alan



Sounds to me as if Phil wants to put a couple of coats of epoxy on your boat for you. I'm sure he said he was going to Grimsby for Christmas but was free boxing day! LOL



Only joking, however if you get the boat ready, I'm sure someone will do the needfull if you need strength!



Cheers Derek 7176

and was that a yes to 2009

G4 pond sealer

About 1/2 the CVRDA swears by it.



Plus its moisture curing so is really easy to use during the winter even in an unheated shed as long as its above freezing. Its also reccomended as a bonding primer for polyester GRP work especially on difficult substrates, so you can expect it to do quite a bit to firm up checked (but not delaminated) ply and veneer.

Thanks everyone for the ideas. Cheers Alan. 6960

Hi Alan



Apart from Paul and Judy who is currently sailing albs at Scaling?



Derek Gibbon 7176

Hi Derek, Apart from myself (alan fearnley) we have Ken Richards - Jeff Kenworthy/Hugh Melvin - Jeff & Pam King - The white family - The Howards, that`s about all who race I think. Cheers Alan.