Wooden Boat Restoration Repair - WEST SYSTEM Epoxy

Using the manual
Wooden Boat Restoration & Repair approaches a repair project in several phases.
Section 1 provides guidelines for assessing the feasibility of repair and restoration,
provides an overview of problems typically encountered in wooden boats and explains
the major uses of epoxy in repair.
Section 2 discusses how you can evaluate the soundness of your boat’s structure and
locate damaged areas.
Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 provide detailed procedures for the most common types of
repairs. These sections can be used in whatever order your repair requires.
Section 7 discusses how to protect against UV, finish and maintain wooden boats.
Section 8 provides fundamental techniques for using WEST SYSTEM epoxy products
successfully in wooden boat repairs, including surface preparation, bonding, bonding
with fillets, laminating, fairing, applying woven cloth and tape, final coating and
finishing. Particularly if you have not used WEST SYSTEM products before, it is
important to read this section carefully before beginning any of the repairs discussed in
previous sections.
Following the procedures described in Wooden Boat Restoration & Repair will allow
you to restore the primary functions of the boat’s structure, reduce flexing and provide
moisture protection. They will assure thorough, long-lasting repairs for boats or other
wooden structures.
1.1 Assessing the feasibility of repair and
restoration
The repair methods in this manual offer practical solutions to structural problems in
wooden boats that are within the abilities of the amateur. However, before embarking
on a major rebuilding operation, it is important to evaluate your commitment carefully
and determine your approach to repair and the time and money you are prepared to
allocate to the project.
1.1.1 Distinguish between repair and restoration
Introduction 2
Do you want your boat faithfully restored, repaired to function and look good, or
patched and in the water as quickly as possible?
Repair means to fix broken parts, to patch holes resulting from impact or moisture
damage, to strengthen weak spots or tighten loose parts. If your goal is repair, you do
not need to commit yourself to a consistent repair method. You can fix one part with
epoxy and another part another way. However, you need to consider the effects of a
repair on the overall structure. For example, bonding a plank in place with epoxy
could cause high local stiffness in an otherwise flexible structure. In some cases, it may
be better to repair the boat in the same fashion in which it was built rather than use
different bonding and construction techniques.
Restoration means to bring a boat back to its original (or better than original)
condition. To restore a boat successfully you need to develop an overall approach to
renovation and maintain consistency in reconstruction methods. Any restoration is a
major project that will involve much time, dedication and careful planning.
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