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08-14-2020, 01:23 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1976 Argosy 20
Doylestown
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 33
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West Marine Epoxy/Hardener
Hey! I am planning to coat the entire floor in West Marine Epoxy and Hardener before laying down luxury vinyl plank. Has anyone does this before? Would you recommend putting the epoxy down or do you think this is overkill? I see it as a insurance policy. My fear is it may mess up the floors so they are no longer level.
I am doing this in a 1976 Argosy Minuet. There are water marks on the floor but no rotted out areas.
Thanks!
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08-14-2020, 04:28 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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WEST is a great product, but what is your purpose in doing this? One coat will not do much IMO. What material is there now, and what is its condition? That is important to know, in order to give you a good answer IMO.
If old plywood, which is fairly dry and absorbent, one coat of WEST applied carefully with a roller will at least help the surface resist water penetration IMO. I would not brush the WEST on, as you may end up with thick and thin areas, as you seem to be anticipating.
Have you worked with WEST before? Large tubs of it [already catalyzed] can heat up quickly and give off poisonous gas, so you should definitely do your homework before working with large quantities IMO. A good respirator is essential too, but they are hard to purchase in these Times Covidian IMO.
After it sets up, wait a couple of days with good air circulation, and then sand the WEST lightly for good adhesion [assuming you are using mastic etc. for the vinyl plank flooring]. If you have other purposes in mind, please provide more details.
PS -- Edit -- There are other safety issues when working with any chemical like this, so please do the necessary research and preparation. Good gloves, air circulation, a plan-of-attack so you don't epoxy yourself into a corner, etc..
Good luck,
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08-14-2020, 04:47 PM
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#3
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
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Is this a new marine plywood floor?
It does help but be advised that all fasteners should also be covered, or at least sealed after install.
No sense sealing and then poking holes in it. 🤔
The floor can also get wet from the underside.
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
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08-14-2020, 04:48 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1971 31' Sovereign
1972 31' Sovereign
1983 31' Airstream310
Soddy Daisy
, Tennessee
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 687
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I used the same epoxy on my 72 Sovereign. Put it on both sides to seal the wood, looked like glass when I finished, probably overkill but my commode seal allowed water to get on my floor around it and it did not harm the wood. Glad I did it and will do it on my other Sovereign this Fall.
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08-14-2020, 05:50 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,667
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Get the pumps West sells for mixing. Takes the guess work out and get the same exact mix every time. The pumps are sized so that you use the same number of pump strokes for resin and hardener. I think the kit has two hardener pumps, one for regular hardener and one for fast. If you roll it on it will level out well and not show high and low areas.
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
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08-15-2020, 09:04 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
1976 Argosy 20
Doylestown
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 33
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It is the original subfloor minus a section at the door that was replaced.
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08-15-2020, 09:05 PM
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#7
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2 Rivet Member
1976 Argosy 20
Doylestown
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cole3444
I used the same epoxy on my 72 Sovereign. Put it on both sides to seal the wood, looked like glass when I finished, probably overkill but my commode seal allowed water to get on my floor around it and it did not harm the wood. Glad I did it and will do it on my other Sovereign this Fall.
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Awesome! Did you lay floor on top of it?
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08-16-2020, 06:53 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Airstream - Other
Airstream - Other
North Central Texas
, USA
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,003
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West System epoxy is a great product for what you are doing. It would be great to get the bottom and sides of the wood if possible but for surface protection it'll be fine for what you are trying to accomplish.
If you use the product without any fillers it will take the form of your flooring, It won't "mess up the floors so they are no longer level".
OTRA15 makes a good point I'd like to second; get the proper respirator for epoxies (if possible now a-days) & keep the trailer WELL ventilated. Epoxies are not the same as working with MEKP catalyzed polyester resins, which still have their precautions, in enclosed areas.
Made the mistake of not wearing the right respirator while doing extensive work with epoxy inside a boat's cuddy-cabin years ago (younger/dumber). Lucky to be working with someone else.
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08-16-2020, 09:17 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RivetED
. . .
OTRA15 makes a good point . . .
. . .
Made the mistake of not wearing the right respirator while doing extensive work with epoxy inside a boat's cuddy-cabin years ago (younger/dumber). Lucky to be working with someone else.
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Thanks for the hat tip.
Was also younger and dumber back in the 60's, and did not wear the recommended gloves while cleaning [catalyzed] polyester resin tools with acetone.
Wasn't I invincible?
Did you know that acetone goes right through your skin into your blood?
The ER doc told me, after I "came to" . . . one life used up . . . [of the feline 9]
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08-16-2020, 09:29 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by npm5031
Awesome! Did you lay floor on top of it?
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Did you see the earlier comment about prepping the WEST for floor mastic?
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08-16-2020, 09:33 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,078
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I agree that WEST is a great product.
I use the 105 epoxy with the 205/206 fast/slow hardener for stable, water proof, permanent gluing
i use the 105 epoxy and 207 Hardener for horizontal surface finises.
it flows well and does not drip. We used it on outdoor furnature and the deck on our Primo smooker
i get mine from www.leevaley.com
allow 24 hours to firm up
they also sell compatible fillers if you need to span larger gaps
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08-16-2020, 10:06 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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The dark red filler almost can't be seen when repairing teak furniture . . . have rescued many old pieces using thickened WEST, cast/molded inside of Wax Paper dams/molds. You have to prep/etch teak [and red/white oak?] with a good scrubbing with a wire brush and acetone, to free up the oils in those wood species.
"Go WEST young man!"
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08-16-2020, 11:07 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,095
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I do not see the point of sealing it with Epoxy. How about a couple of coats of varnish?
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08-16-2020, 11:16 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2021 25' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,720
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Lots of good comments here.
I use West System (available at West Marine amongst many other places...) on lots of boat projects. I would certainly use it on a plywood floor if I were able to access it. I’d suggest that you call West Systems 800 number and discuss the project with their tech support. They know their stuff!
Remember, people develop allergies to epoxy with continued exposure to the uncurled product. Be careful to limit your exposure.
__________________
Loving our 2021 Globetrotter 25 and our 2022 Ford F-150 King Ranch 5.0!!! Plenty of payload, not even close to axel limits and it drives and rows beautifully…
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08-16-2020, 11:53 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill M.
I do not see the point of sealing it with Epoxy. How about a couple of coats of varnish?
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Varnish has little or no tensile strength like most epoxies do, including WEST.
When applied to old plywood, WEST can strengthen it remarkably. Also, you can lightly sand the cured epoxy and bond things to it. Varnished plywood might initially take a bond for, say, flooring mastic. But any slight pull away from the plywood would likely cause the varnish/mastic bond to fail, or the plywood to de-laminate. Not so with WEST-impregnated plywood!
If you have never used WEST, you might not appreciate just how magical it can be.
Great advice from Bruce B in the last post. Do you work for Jamestown Distributors in Jamestown RI by any chance? They have been our go-to source for all things nautical for decades, including WEST products, before the Internet, when "mail order" got fancy with "800" area codes.
https://www.jamestowndistributors.co...portal/main.do
Great inventory and very knowledgeable staff . . . tons of odd-ball stainless and bronze fasteners and hardware . . . fast service . . . shall I go on?
Small world!
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08-16-2020, 12:10 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2021 25' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,720
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15
Varnish has little or no tensile strength like most epoxies do, including WEST.
When applied to old plywood, WEST can strengthen it remarkably. Also, you can lightly sand the cured epoxy and bond things to it. Varnished plywood might initially take a bond for, say, flooring mastic. But any slight pull away from the plywood would likely cause the varnish/mastic bond to fail, or the plywood to de-laminate. Not so with WEST-impregnated plywood!
If you have never used WEST, you might not appreciate just how magical it can be.
Great advice from Bruce B in the last post. Do you work for Jamestown Distributors in Jamestown RI by any chance? They have been our go-to source for all things nautical for decades, including WEST products, before the Internet, when "mail order" got fancy with "800" area codes.
https://www.jamestowndistributors.co...portal/main.do
Great inventory and very knowledgeable staff. Tons of odd-ball stainless and bronze fasteners and hardware. Fast service . . . shall I go on?
Small world!
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Ha! Me work???
I am young to be retired but retired I am. We ran a European automobile sales and service business though, not Jamestown Distributors.
Are you aware that they are no longer in Jamestown? The company was sold 20 years ago and they moved it to Bristol RI.
It is a very different company today. All of the cool stuff is long gone. They are wildly successful at what they do though.
Interestingly enough, one of the things they do is sell their own brand of epoxy! I’ve not used it although people I know who do are impressed with the product.
Times are changing!
__________________
Loving our 2021 Globetrotter 25 and our 2022 Ford F-150 King Ranch 5.0!!! Plenty of payload, not even close to axel limits and it drives and rows beautifully…
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08-16-2020, 12:19 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,078
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West System epoxy exceeds any varnish in strength, UV filtering and durability.
it dries rock hard!
My smoker surface was finished 20 years ago, the West system 207 epoxy still looks like day 1
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09-16-2020, 02:03 PM
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#18
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K4TCJ
2009 27' FB Flying Cloud
Currently Looking...
Crestview
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 49
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Just to clear a matter, WEST SYSTEMS EPOXY is in no way associated with WEST MARINE.
Have been using their epoxy since 1979, no problems as long as you follow directions.......
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09-16-2020, 02:34 PM
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#19
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
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Boatbuilder friend of mine highly recommends products from this supplier..👍
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
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09-17-2020, 05:42 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1971 31' Sovereign
1972 31' Sovereign
1983 31' Airstream310
Soddy Daisy
, Tennessee
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 687
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I used West Coast Epoxy five years ago on both sides of the floor on my 72 31' Landyacht and have never regretted doing it. Took my vinyl click lock floor up this year because it would not stay locked and had no issues anywhere. My commode had leaked during that time and the water was still sitting between the plywood and flooring. Great stuff.
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