Wrong again

C

clinton bolton

Member
So I have always thought of a sunfish as a little kids boat.I have owned a few hobiecats after learning to sail on a sunfish when I was a little boy in the 70?s in cub scouts.I never once thought an adult could have fun on one.I scared my family right out of sailing with the hobiecats.I was young and what was fun to me was terrifying to them I just discovered.So after being given a sunfish I found that I was wrong.After purchasing some new line and sail I was set.10 minutes or less to rig what is not to like about that.Also it is a hoot in high winds and big waves.I bungee the tiller straight and use a kayak paddle to scout duck hunting spots on the reservoirs in nasty conditions.Who would have thunk it!Even out here on the Prarie they are everywhere.My rudder assembly and dagger board need attention.Folks around here say to varnish them but there are no boat builders here.Would epoxy resin be more resistant or is varnish the way to go.Any advice would be appreciated.
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clinton bolton said:
Would epoxy resin be more resistant or is varnish the way to go.Any advice would be appreciated.
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My personal opinion, If you wish to finish the wood "bright" I would use marine spar varnish.
 
Plain clear epoxy alone is very intolerant of UV exposure. If you want to have a varnished look you will need to put a few coats of varnish over the epoxy to protect it from sunlight. Frankly, I don't see how a layer of epoxy would offer much protection in this application. Like Dave, I would just go with a few coats of spar varnish.
 
Thanks guys varnish it is.There was a man with a kayak at a local lake this summer that was beautiful and he said it was coated in epoxy resin.That is why I was considering the resin but I know nothing about it.Thanks.
 

From what I saw and learned at my buddies boatworks. Smiths Custom Epoxy applied first, and then quality varnish is the way to go.

As already stated the epoxy alone is not UV friendly, and will breakdown. The epoxy base will give the varnish a longer life span, but sooner or later revarnishing will have to be done.


When epoxy is the base, and quality paint is applied over it the paint lasts much longer than varnish does. I use this method on the decoys I carve, and also with the boats that I have had. I'm not fond of revarnishing...

my 2 cents
 
Clint~


I will throw my lot in with Vince on this one: a thin coat of epoxy to penetrate, toughen and waterproof the wood - followed by at least 3 coats of a good Marine Spar Varnish.


And, the key to keeping a good skin of varnish is to re-coat it - after a light sanding with 220 or 150-grit - BEFORE it begins to peel and flake. A coat or 2 in the off-season is a useful regimen.


BTW: I, too, have had fun on Sunfish in brisk winds and lumpy seas.


All the best,


SJS






 
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