Page 1 of 1
Removing green epoxy?
Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 5:28 pm
by patrick
I'm in the process of restoring hull #1173 and want to remove a bunch of ugly, lumpy, green epoxy from around the base of the keel housing in the cabin. I'm guessing that someone put it there to provide reinforcement or to stop leaks? I'd like to replace it with fiberglass. Any ideas on how to remove this stuff without spending what could be hours with a dremmel? I've read that using a heat gun can cause it to loosen up (then it could be pried off) but I'd be afraid of damaging the underlying fiberglass with this method. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. Thanks!
Patrick Caruso, 1975 Mk II #1173, Spokane, WA
Re: Removing green epoxy?
Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 12:37 am
by bluepearl
Heat gun is probably a good idea, if you're careful and don't get it too hot you shouldn't damage the fiberglass. If that doesn't work you may be grinding.
Re: Removing green epoxy?
Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 8:23 pm
by The Duck #889
The fact that its green may mean nothing, or it could mean anything. Thats fine.
But basically, you've all ready stated your two options. Using a right-angle grinder with a heavy grit "flapper" disc should be highly effective. Wear a mask.
Re: Removing green epoxy?
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:38 pm
by patrick
Thanks Bob and "the Duck" for your feedback. I was out on a fishing boat over Memorial Day weekend in the San Juan Islands catching some shrimp and asked the skipper (a relative) about this green stuff. He said it sounded like an epoxy product called "Splash Zone" and said that they simply use a screw driver and a hammer to take it off. I tried it yesterday and sure enough it came off in chunks. Hurray!
Re: Removing green epoxy?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:17 pm
by San Juan Sailboats
Are these "bumps" near the forward end and about the size of a golf ball? If so, they are probably the Keel bolt covering.
Re: Removing green epoxy?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:53 pm
by patrick
It's the sloppy job that someone did with the green epoxy that created the lumps. They covered the seams where the keel housing meets the cabin floor, the most forward part of the cabin floor itself (i.e., between the keel housing and the raised platform for the porta potti, and the same area of the floor on the other side), and the protruding parts of the keel housing itself. It took me about an hour to remove most of the green epoxy. Now, I'm planning to finish up the prep and then add some new fiberglass along these areas. It appears that someone was trying to repair a couple of cracks in the keel housing (which are now revealed) and then decided to add some extra epoxy all over things to gain some strength.