EPOXY COAT TREATAMENT FOR THE HULL

[vindo40]

After I decided to peel the gel coat off of my very damaged vindo 40:
1- I let it dry
2- I applied 3 coats of Epoxy Mixed with Filler to the hull. The Epoxy I used was (VINYL ESTER RESIN and the filler was COLLOIDAL SILICA) from ?FIBERGLASS COATINGS INC,? a company with a very good reputation here.
Now, after 5 months I am still trying to find the time for the 4 coats of BARRIER COAT (INTERPROTECT 2000/2001) that I want to put on my hull.

Now my questions:
1- Can ?Florida Sun? (it is really hot here) damage the Vinyl ester that I applied?
2- Do I have to wait a period of time before I can apply the barrier coat? (The instructions for Interprotect 2000/2001 said that I have to apply theantifouling within a certain period of time.

Thank for any clarification on this subject.

Miguel

[bcooke]

The Epoxy I used was (VINYL ESTER RESIN

I don't think vinylester resin and epoxy are the same thing at all. Totally different chemistry at work here.

For that matter, I was under the impression that vinylester had pretty good water barrier properties and shouldn't need a barrier coat.

As for your questions, I know epoxy doesn't like the UV rays from the sun without an inhibitor added in. Unless your vinylester had a UV inhibitor in the mix that you know of I would say it doesn't like the sun much either.

And I would think 5 months is plenty long enough for the vinylester to cure but I haven't worked with the stuff myself. It doesn't come much around here on this forum.

-Britton

[Tim]

After I decided to peel the gel coat off of my very damaged vindo 40:
The Epoxy I used was VINYL ESTER RESIN

Then you used vinylester, not epoxy. The terms and properties are not interchangeable.

Vinylester resin, a form of modified polyester, has many good properties and is applicable for the use you chose, but it's not epoxy.

1- Can ?Florida Sun? (it is really hot here) damage the Vinyl ester that I applied?

Almost certainly yes. UV will affect most unprotected resin. Time to get it covered up. Why risk it in any event.

2- Do I have to wait a period of time before I can apply the barrier coat?

I think you already have. You're ready for the barrier coat.

[Hirilondë]

Britton and Tim have already clarified chemistry of the materials. I can add some insight on the Interprotect as I used it on my Renegade. It has a "hot recoat window" (time frame in which the next coat can be applied with no interim preparation) of 14 days. Bottom paint can be "hot coated" within 9 hours of the last coat. When you are ready for the last coat of Interprotect I suggest you pick a day when you have all day to be available. Do the Interprotect in the morniong and wait the 3 hours (give or take) untill it dries and then immediately do the bottom paint. I am very pleased with my results, and so far it is holding up very well.

[vindo40]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess it is time to finish my hull. I will share pictures with you when I figure out how I can attach them in the Forum.... any tips on attaching photos? Thanks again
Miguel

[dasein668]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess it is time to finish my hull. I will share pictures with you when I figure out how I can attach them in the Forum.... any tips on attaching photos? Thanks again
Miguel

Tim has a tutorial here that might be helpful.