West Systems bonding epoxy
 

I'm going to be pulling my rub rail this week. While it is off I was wondering if West had a bonding epoxy that I could shoot up between the deck and the hull to secure it better than the stock screws I'm going to be replacing. I see they make something in a caulk gun with a helical mixing element. I was thinking 5200, but that stuff is a dripping mess.

Thanks

Yes they do,,,,WEST System Six10 Thickened Epoxy Adhesive ,,,or you can use Plexus MA320 Adhesive ,,,Jamestown Distributors also has their own line of thickened epoxy adhesive called TotalBoat Thixo 2:1 Epoxy System...

5200 is a better alternative since it has more elasticity than epoxy. 5200 does not "drip". Just do not get sloppy with the application. West is a great product but may not be the best for your needs. Whatever you use, the key will be to thoroughly clean the bonding areas. There may be mold release on one gelcoated surface if it is the usual "shoebox" joint. Nothing will bond properly if the surfaces are not completely clean.

I do not want the flex of 5200. I want to bond the deck to the hull and I want it to be rigid. It flexes now and I want to eliminate it.

Best way would be to tab it together from the inside.

Good call, I just removed the inner junk to expose it all.

A couple pics of what I'm starting to do.
I removed the rub rail.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]524349[/ATTACH]
I pried the deck and hull apart. Wire wheeled in between. Shot some Six10 up and in between the hull and deck.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]524348[/ATTACH]
Ratchet strapped it down, drilled new holes and then zipped in new screws. (Pic is mocking it up to make sure the straps work)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]524350[/ATTACH]

On the inside I used the Six10 at the joint. I then put a strip of glass over it. I then rolled more epoxy over that. I hope that will work.

I just used the Six10 the other day for a repair on my Concept 30. The tabs the factory used to join the inner liner bulkhead to the hull (I think its called a bulkhead) had broken loose from the hull, causing a loud banging when the boat landed. I cleaned the area the best I could, injected the Six10 into the area (there is a whole lot less than I thought was in that tube). I made some wedges to apply pressure to the repair until cured. I then broke out the chopped strand mat and Polyester resin and glassed over the tab to distribute the stress over a larger area of the hull. (obviously not the type of repair you were doing). Anyway, I thought the Six10 Epoxy was very easy to use and was the right thickness, not to thin not to thick.

Just an fyi.... poly over epoxy doesnt work very well. Once you start with epoxy you pretty much have to stay with epoxy.