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West System ???? What is it??

 
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Thomas Wentworth

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Since: Dec 01, 2005
Posts: 29



(Msg. 1) Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 2:05 pm
Post subject: West System ???? What is it??
Archived from groups: rec>boats>building (more info?)

I keep seeing postings and other writings about the "West System" .

I know it is something to do with epoxy .. but what?

Is this just a brand?

Also,,, if you need fiberglass supplies when fixing an old sailboat, where
would you look? Do you go to an auto repair supply place?

 >> Stay informed about: West System ???? What is it?? 
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Brian Nystrom

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Since: Jun 06, 2005
Posts: 248



(Msg. 2) Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 2:46 pm
Post subject: Re: West System ???? What is it?? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Thomas Wentworth wrote:
> I keep seeing postings and other writings about the "West System" .
>
> I know it is something to do with epoxy .. but what?
>
> Is this just a brand?

Exactly. It's a widely available brand of epoxy that's popular with boat
builders.

> Also,,, if you need fiberglass supplies when fixing an old sailboat, where
> would you look? Do you go to an auto repair supply place?

Not unless you're looking for polyester resin, which is what's typically
used in car bodies. Marine suppliers are your best bet for local
sources, though Home Depot sells Everfix quart epoxy kits and
fiberglass, if you're just doing small repairs. There are many online
epoxy sources, with Raka (www.raka.com) being very popular with boat
builders, due to high quality products and excellent service at much
better prices than West Systems.

 >> Stay informed about: West System ???? What is it?? 
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drskew

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Since: Mar 19, 2005
Posts: 4



(Msg. 3) Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 4:25 pm
Post subject: Re: West System ???? What is it?? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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The "West System" is not just the brand of epoxy, but a method of
encapsulating a wooden boat in fibreglass and epoxy. Using the West
System, a boat is completely sealed, so that water cannot get to the
wood. It's time consuming, requiring great attention to detail. It's
not simply painting epoxy over the wood. Each seam is covered with a
fillet of thickened epoxy and fibreglass cloth.


Thomas Wentworth wrote:
> I keep seeing postings and other writings about the "West System" .
>
> I know it is something to do with epoxy .. but what?
>
> Is this just a brand?
>
> Also,,, if you need fiberglass supplies when fixing an old sailboat, where
> would you look? Do you go to an auto repair supply place?
 >> Stay informed about: West System ???? What is it?? 
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Brian D

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Since: Nov 28, 2005
Posts: 43



(Msg. 4) Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 6:35 pm
Post subject: Re: West System ???? What is it?? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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They've got no patent on ecapsulating wood or composites in something
waterproof and people did things like that on boats long before WEST pulled
up to the table. I'd call their approach "marketing" and nothing more.
Especially if you consider that they mislead the public with statements like
"epoxy saturation" as though the wood completely saturated with epoxy and
become a rot-proof wood/epoxy composite product. False advertising. Nope.
I'd say that the other epoxy outfits get just as much credit for epoxy
encapsulation as WEST does... if not more. It was the other companies, and
boat builders themselves, that corrected the nasty rumors about 'saturation'
and made the statements more accurate by saying 'encapsulation' instead. But
I am at least glad that WEST got the ball rolling and do give them credit
for that.

Brian D



wrote in message

> The "West System" is not just the brand of epoxy, but a method of
> encapsulating a wooden boat in fibreglass and epoxy. Using the West
> System, a boat is completely sealed, so that water cannot get to the
> wood. It's time consuming, requiring great attention to detail. It's
> not simply painting epoxy over the wood. Each seam is covered with a
> fillet of thickened epoxy and fibreglass cloth.
>
>
> Thomas Wentworth wrote:
>> I keep seeing postings and other writings about the "West System" .
>>
>> I know it is something to do with epoxy .. but what?
>>
>> Is this just a brand?
>>
>> Also,,, if you need fiberglass supplies when fixing an old sailboat,
>> where
>> would you look? Do you go to an auto repair supply place?
>
 >> Stay informed about: West System ???? What is it?? 
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William R. Watt

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Since: Jun 25, 2003
Posts: 835



(Msg. 5) Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 3:23 pm
Post subject: Re: West System ???? What is it?? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

WEST - Wood Epoxy Saturation Technique?
Gougeon Brothers - boatbuilder/supplier/bookwriters in Michigan?
The GB have probably copyrighted and trademarked their version of the
process under the WEST trade name.
 >> Stay informed about: West System ???? What is it?? 
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