Epoxy is hydrophobic and permeability is very low. BUT it can slowly absorb
water if left submerged for very long periods of time. I had a scarf on a
rubrail bust once from the same thing...left out all winter in the rain,
unprotected. The paint on the boat was topsides paint, not rated for
submersion. I know polyester resin would've been far worse. As with any
boat left in water (whether rain collecting in it or floating), an
appropriate bottom paint should be used. And yes, I know how very tough it
is to find a bottom paint that is legal to apply above the waterline. You
have to find a non-antifouling bottom paint to be legal above the waterline.
I've heard good things about Devoe 229, which is an industrial grade marine
epoxy paint ...used on everything from offshore oil rigs to large commercial
ships. The gloss is reasonably good, and the paint is very tough. Saw it
first on a Tolman Widebody skiff in Homer, Alaska and the owners (and skiff
designer Renn Tolman) were very happy with it. It's what I'm going to use
on the boat that I'm building now ....a Tolman Jumbo. I live in Oregon and
in spite of drains, water WILL collect in and on the boat. Interlux makes
an epoxy paint rated for submersion also. It's called something like
'Progressive' ...you have to call them and ask for it. It doesn't show up
in their catalog lists.

Brian


"William R. Watt" wrote in message
...
The owner of an epoxy sheathed plywood (okume marine) kayak was showing me
today the deterioration in the surface ply on the inside of the hull. The
builder had let the boat sit outside over the winter mistakenly assuming
epoxy was impervious to H2O. Snow accumulated in the cockpit, melted,
froze, melted again, and by late spring there was 6" of melt water inside
the hull. The epoxy sheathing on the inside of the hull did not stop the
water from getting at the plywood and starting rot. Accept the claims of
epoxy purveyors and promoters at your peril.
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