DIYers: You’re going to need some epoxy

By Chris Landry

Soundings asked three of the owners who completed restorations to identify a few tools and materials they used.

1984 Sisu 22,Roland Robert

• WEST System epoxy (hardtop fabrications)
• Penske board (for hardtop and transom)
• 3M sealants and adhesives (5200, 4200, 4000)
• Mas low-viscosity epoxy for sealing and coating mahogany
• table saw, circular saw, jigsaw, band saw and dual-action orbital sander

1965 Glastron V-171 Crestflite, Gordon Reed
• random orbital sander
• jigsaw, circular saw and band saw
• 3M sealants and adhesives (5200, 4200, 4000)
• epoxy (“Most of the popular types work well,” says Reed)
• air tools (“They’re great to have, especially the small right-angle grinder with a 2- or 3-inch 3M Roloc disc attachment.”)
• drills (cordless and electric) and plenty of drill bits, including tapered and countersinks
• particle masks, respirator, safety glasses, ear protection, paper suits and rubber gloves “by the boxful”
• small table saw
• pry bars

1974 Sea Ray SRV180, Steve Brady
• WEST System epoxy pumps. (“It’s a fabulous system,” says Brady. “Often, I found myself needing only a little epoxy. The pumps never harden when left alone, so I kept them on my workbench for ready access.”)
• 50-count box of paintbrushes and a box of latex gloves. (“They were cheap and convenient. My goal was to reduce setup and cleanup time.”)
• orbital and pneumatic palm sanders
• indoor work area. (“Not everyone can work in a climate-controlled environment all the time, but you have to keep your work dry. If it is not properly tarped and covered and water gets in there, you are starting all over every time you go to work on it. It’ll just kill the momentum of the project.”)

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