Marine Fairing Compound - Advice for below waterline

[Tim_Pearson_303]

Hi all,
Just looking for advice on a good marine fairing compound for the hull of my Pearson 303. My hull is in great shape, which is evident after soda blasting. Hull is pitted in just a few areas in both the barrier coat and gelcoat. Please see photo attached. Estimated max depth of deepest holes is 2 mm.

Could you all recommend a fairing compound to fill these holes before I put on Interlux InterProtect 2000E?

Thank you!

Regards,
Tim

[Dulcesuenos]

I like ADtech P77 fairing compound, intended for above or Below Wl, looks identical to 3ms fairing compound at about 1/3 the price. Has held up great on our boat

[Tim_Pearson_303]

Thank you, Sweet Dreams!

[sainted]

West system epoxy with their faring compound works well.

[flyingfin]

Awlfair by AwlGrip - two equal parts, simple to mix, easy to spread and fair.

[transmitterdan]

This stuff is pretty good. Compatible with polyester gelcoat and virtually impervious to water. It is not epoxy but vinylester resin. It’s available with fiberglass reinforcing too.

https://www.jamestowndistributors.co...ct.do?pid=6515

[Mike Banks]

Phenolic micro balloons and any good quality epoxy resin medium speed cure.

Mix your resin and hardener, then add the micro balloons a little at a time stirring them in--and they are like fine dust, so be careful with them

Some people disregard instructions and mix in some micro balloons into the measured resin before adding the hardener and the rest of the micro balloons. When it is like a deep red peanut paste--you can start to work it into the holes leaving it proud of the surface. Do not use it stiffer, some of the resin has to wet the hull surface as well as the micro balloons, and if it flows too much, just add some more later and build it op in layers if that is what it takes.


Microballoons make for easier sanding. I never use Q-Cell microspheres below the waterline, and some two=pack epoxy fillers contain Q-cells and a dye.

[HankOnthewater]

Not sure if this product is available worldwide but here in Oz, I have used over the last 20 years this epoxy fairing compound:
https://wattylindustrial.com.au/docu...apro%20EFC.pdf
Quite expensive, but goes a long way, easy to mix (1:1), forgiving in slightly inaccurate ratios (hmmm, I have never weighed, or measured, like I do with normal epoxy), easy to apply, easy to sand, never had a failure to adhere. Sticks to fibreglass, epoxy, cement, timber and steel, and.... hands. For the latter, quick cleanup is required, or the use of gloves.
Colours of the parts are white and black, and when mixed a uniform grey.

[ElGatoGordo]

This is all I use anymore. It's more expensive than mixing your own, which is what I did for years.

https://www.duckworks.com/product-p/s3-qf-parent.htm

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

I like ADtech P77 fairing compound, intended for above or Below Wl, looks identical to 3ms fairing compound at about 1/3 the price. Has held up great on our boat

What he said. We did the entire bottom of our 40' waterline 7' deep hull with it.

Story is here on CF if you wanted to read about a bottom job from Hell.


I also did a full-on bottom job in the course of remedying our issues; this isn't asking for it in this thread, but we used Sherwin-Williams barrier coat and bottom paint based on the recommendation of a paint rep internet and R/L buddy, and have been thrilled with it so far.

If you want the story and the links to those products (and AdTech, too), bump this with the request and I'll post the story.

Or, go here: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...67#post2896667

[Tim_Pearson_303]

Thank you to all for the wealth of information! Much appreciated. :-)

[sailhand]

I second the microballoons and epoxy also the mixing method, the microballoons definitely last in epoxy. Mix the hardner and resin first. If using vinylester then you can mkx the microballoons and resin first and catalyze it when ready to use. If using vinylester I usually premix a 20lt pail. Makes it easy and quick.