Epoxy hull or not?

[hoss]

My son and I are fixing up an Mirror (a small sailing pram). They were built using stitch and glue, the paint on the hull is really thin so I'm going to sand it down and repaint. I think this hull (mahogony ply) would be better encapsulated with Epoxy. My questions could I cover the hull with epoxy (I won't get all the paint out of the grain), would it be worth doing I can't get to both sides. Or should I just apply some new paint. Thanks for the help.

[imported_Conrad]

I think that with mahogany ply, most would consider the epoxy unneeded, since mahogany doesn't check, holds the paint well, and has an even surface free of the grain variations found in fir ply. All the epoxy will do is add weight and some very minimal abrassion resistence. It will also be a chore to fair up. I'd just paint it- use a two part system if you want some extra toughness/durability.

[paul oman]

Hello:

We are in the epoxy business (www.epoxyproducts.com/marine.html) and I wouldn't coat the hull with epoxy unless it was in really bad shape or if the wood was beginning to check/crack. Even then, I would use solvent thinned epoxy and not straight epoxy.

paul oman

[John Blazy]

Epoxy would not appear worth it anyway without at least embedding a thin layer of glass cloth, otherwise its probably just as good as the two part material referred to. I'd epoxy / glass the bottom keel line or other higher wear areas as a minimum, anticipating someone dragging the boat over rocks or a concrete boat ramp. One puncture through the coating, and moisture will weep in and peel yer paint. - JB

[steve sparhawk]

Paul couldn't mention that he has a urethane primer laden with aluminum powder---but I can.
I have used his Aluthane and it sticks like baby sh--to an army blanket. His site will show (if you can successfully navigate it) that several immersion tests indicate that this coating is far-and-above more effective in sealing out moisture than any other product. (Hell, I should be on Madison Avenue) Not only that, nine out of ten New York taxi drivers take Aluthane daily for that let-down feeling. (Which they always get right after drinking it)

I know this isn't the place to blow anybody's horn but it IS the place to share experience that may be of interest to a fellow boatbuilder.
Epoxy isn't the answer to EVERY situation.