Canoe
Ponderings by Red Rock Wilderness StoreCanoe
Ponderings by Red Rock Wilderness Store
Making Repairs to a Vinylester Canoe - Using a Resin that will work
Q. Hi-
I have a 17'6" Sawyer Kevlar canoe. I was wondering what type of resin I would use to repair or put skid- plates on. If you don't know, could you refer me to someone please.
Thank you much,
Jake
A. As long as you
sand down the area that the kevlar felt or cloth will cover (the actual skid plate or kevlar patch
area) with 80 grit sand paper, and wipe off the dust with either acetone, alcohol or even clean
water (will have to let it dry thoroughly), epoxy resin should do the trick. The key is sanding the
surface to allow the resin to "grip" the little ruts or the professional term is to "key in". Your
canoe is made from vinylester resin and that stuff is downright obnoxious to work with. On the
other hand, West System marine epoxy with the 205 hardener will allow you 9-12 minutes cure time
which is just enough to do repair work. If you work on a cooler day (50-60 degrees out), that cure
time will increase. If you are working in a hotter, more humid climate (above 80 degrees F) you
should consider using the 206 hardener which has a 20 minute cure time. We stock the 205 and can
get the 206 anytime usually. Hope this info helps.
Joe
Red Rock
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