Epoxy or Polyester question

[rhr1956]

I need to take care of a soft deck core under the bow pulpit mounting flanges. I will be cutting the deck and core using a hole saw, then refilling the hole and touching up with a little paint before re-mounting the pulpit.
1. Epoxy or Polyester?
2. Should I use chopped glass or something else as a filler?
3. Can I fill the hole completely in one shot, or should I layer it in a few steps?
Thanks for any advice.

[jameswilson29]

Why don't you cut a panel off the entire foredeck area and rebuild with epoxy and balsa core so you have greater strength than simply filling a hole? (You may be able to save the skin.)

You may have some problems if the filled hole is supposed to support the bow pulpit in the future: where is the lateral strength from that kind of repair?

I suspect the wet core extends farther out than simply under the flanges. You might as well re-do the entire area.

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

I need to take care of a soft deck core under the bow pulpit mounting flanges. I will be cutting the deck and core using a hole saw, then refilling the hole and touching up with a little paint before re-mounting the pulpit.
1. Epoxy or Polyester?
2. Should I use chopped glass or something else as a filler?
3. Can I fill the hole completely in one shot, or should I layer it in a few steps?
Thanks for any advice.

Epoxy. The only reason to ever use polyester for anything is cost. It is inferior to epoxy in every way but price.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

Epoxy. The only reason to ever use polyester for anything is cost. It is inferior to epoxy in every way but price.

I agree 100%

[mikieg]

gougeon brothers' west system is pretty bad a$$!

[mitiempo]

There are lots of different brands of epoxy - Mas, System 3 and many more, some less expensive than West.

Epoxy means not having to re-do the repair in the future.