Fairing the Hull of an Optimist Pram with WEST SYSTEM Epoxy

WEST SYSTEM Technical Advisor Greg Bull walks through the steps to plan, and execute, fairing the hull of an Optimist Pram with WEST SYSTEM Epoxy. He begins by discussing the difference between fair and smooth. Then he determines the high and low areas of the hull by sanding with a long board. This spans over the lows so the highs are the only areas being sanded. Then he removes the remaining paint and uses a batten to guide him in marking the lows. The next step is to begin mixing fairing compound. He mixes WEST SYSTEM 105 Epoxy Resin and 206 Slow Hardener until they are thoroughly blended. Then he adds 407 Low Density Fairing Filler to the epoxy until it reaches a mayonnaise consistency. He spreads this fairing compound into the marked low areas and levels them with a metal batten. After the epoxy fairing compound has cured, he sands the hull with a longboard again revealing any remaining low areas. The process is repeated until the lows have been filled. Once the hull is acceptably fair, he rolls a slightly thickened fill coat onto the entire surface. This gets another round of sanding. Any remaining pinholes are then spot filled with a squeegee, to force the epoxy into the holes. He rolls four coats of neat epoxy (unthickened epoxy) onto the entire surface to seal the fairing compound and create a consistent surface for the final steps of primer and paint. This was an extensive project for the size of the boat, but the process can translate to any size boat and any level of fairness. ______________________ PRODUCTS USED WEST SYSTEM 105 Epoxy Resin https://www.westsystem.com/105-epoxy-... WEST SYSTEM 206 Slow Hardener https://www.westsystem.com/206-slow-h... WEST SYSTEM 407 Low-Density Fairing Filler https://www.westsystem.com/407-low-de... WEST SYSTEM Application Tools (Rollers, Squeegees, Mixing Sticks, Mixing Pots, etc.) https://www.westsystem.com/applicatio... ______________________ MORE INFORMATION WEST SYSTEM User Manual and Product Guide https://www.westsystem.com/wp-content... WEST SYSTEM Epoxy Basics – Fairing https://www.westsystem.com/instructio... Epoxy Safety https://www.westsystem.com/safety/ ______________________ FOLLOW US   / westsystemepoxy     / westsystemepoxy     / west_system   #westsystem #westsystemepoxy #epoxy #epoxyresin #fairing #sanding #boat #boatrestoration #boatrepair ______________________ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:05 Make a Fairing Plan 03:07 Surface Prep 04:04 Marking the Lows 08:13 Applying Fairing Compound 13:16 Repeat Process Until Fair 19:14 Preparing for Final Fairing 22:48 Applying Neat Epoxy 24:38 Primer and Paint 27:14 Optimist Pram Sailing