Скачать или смотреть Interlux Watertite or West Systems: Which Epoxy Fairing is the Best Choice for Your Boat?

Today we find out which solution will work the best for fixing our blister problem on our 1985 Pearson 34 CB #sailboat . To improve the sailing performance of Reverie we want a smooth and clean hull.

As you know from our last video we did 4 tests utilizing two products. On one hand, we used #Interlux Watertite. On the other we used West System Epoxy 105, Hardener 206 (Slow), and Filler (410).

After talking to a number of experts, so recommending that we #peeling the hull, others dead against it; we have decided not to peel the hull. We felt that peeling would significantly increase the cost associated with repairing the hull and the time.

Peeling the hull is the process by which a professional uses a special grinding tool to literally peel/remove the entire layer of gelcoat and in some really bad instances, can also remove the first layer of fiberglass from the hull. All this removed material would then have to replaced with new fiberglass and gelcoat in order to bring the hull back to its original state.

Since we do not have problems with delamination, softspots, or structural condition of the hull, we have decided to go with the option of using a special epoxy filler to fill the voids which range in size from the size of a pencil point to about the size of a dime.

For this solution, experts offered their options which come down to the following:

1. Use Interlux Watertite Epoxy Filler. This is easy to use and come in two cans that you mix on a 1:1 ratio.

2. Use West System and make a epoxy mix with Epoxy 105, Harder 206 (slow) and Filler (410). The epoxy portion is easy to do as you use the pumps to give you exact measurements. The filler you start adding by hand until you have something slightly softer than the consistency of peanut butter.

I included links to these materials on the sections below.

Both of the above solutions work well for us. Since our holes are very small, the material renders quite a bit.

On the video we decided to do a test to see which one would work the best for our application. So we did the following:

1. We selected 4 sections on the boat.
2. Two of these sections we left the way they were after sandblasting. We cleaned them thoroughly with acetone.
3. The other two, we pre-sanded to create a smooth surface and then cleaned thoroughly with acetone.
4. We applied the material and gave it a couple of days to dry.

We then sanded the areas to evaluate the results and this is what we found:

Sanded vs Not-Sanded Prep
With both products, preparing the area by sanding and cleaning it produced the best results. By sanding and cleaning, the job would turn into 1 application of product plus touching up vs 2 coats of filler.

Interlux Watertite vs West System (105/206/410 Mix)
Both of these options will not shrink and are extremely watertight which makes them great for blister repairs. Of the two options, Watertite produced the most consistent results and provided a complete fill of the hole leveled with the surface of the hull.

I feel that using the Watertite since it is already ready to go and simple to use by mixing a 1:1 ration will produce the best results across the board.

So on this challenge, the winner is Interlux Watertite Epoxy Filler.

Equipment I used for these jobs
West System Epoxy Resin 105 - https://amzn.to/2JWh7TS
West System 206 Slow Hardener - https://amzn.to/36KLeH2
West System 410 Filler - https://amzn.to/3mVTZUf
West System Reusable Mixing Sticks - https://amzn.to/33No1Cb
Chop Strand Mat 50” X 360” 1.5 Oz - https://amzn.to/2JNszRU

Tools
DEWALT Rotary Sander, Variable Speed, Dust Shroud, 5-Inch (DWE6401DS): https://amzn.to/3qBf1tw

Video Equipment Used
Iphone XMAX - https://amzn.to/37D3IZk
Video Editing: Camtasia 2020 - https://techsmith.z6rjha.net/j0LQZ