42' Epoxy OL, your opinion?
#71
Here is a link that aids in the discussion and comparison between the different properties of epoxy, vinylester and polyester resins: http://www.c-cyachts.com/images/comp...oxy_v_Poly.pdf
#72
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That paper highlights the key reasons for using epoxy, and in particular, why one should never buy a polyester boat: the elongation until failure. Epoxy, at 7%, allows the resin to elongate a bit more than glass, therefore the full strength of the glass can be achieved. Vinylester at 4.5% is about the same as glass, so there will be some delamination (the bond between resin and fibers) deep in the laminate, leading to failure close to the full strength of the material. Polyester elongates MUCH LESS than glass, so a poly/glass laminate fails due to internal delamination much sooner than the fibers.
Also, vinylester or post cured epoxy is really the stuff you want to use if you have anything but an all white boat, because they don't shrink (leading to invisible internal delamination) at the temperatures dark colors reach in full summer sunlight.
Also, vinylester or post cured epoxy is really the stuff you want to use if you have anything but an all white boat, because they don't shrink (leading to invisible internal delamination) at the temperatures dark colors reach in full summer sunlight.
Last edited by carcrash; 01-21-2010 at 05:20 PM. Reason: Vinylester is almost as good structurally as post cured epoxy