Polyester vs Epoxy resin for dinghy/kayak construction?
"Lew
Polyester/roving produces a rather brittle, heavy laminate.
Epoxy/knitted glass produces a more ductile, lighter weight laminate.
Pound for pound, polyester and woven roving cost less per pound, but
you use more pounds, so the cost differences tend to disappear.
Epoxy, knitted glass and a 1/2" Airex foam core would produce a very
light weight, bullet proof, dinghy or kayak.
Just remember three things.
1)You will buy a commercial dinghy for less money than you will spend
to build one.
2)You build one because you want to do it.
3)Once you use epoxy and knitted glass, you will never consider
polyester again.
Lew is right on every particular.
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