Gelcoat alternative ? Adtech ES218

I am building 6 beam sockets about 3' long each for the Wood's Skoota.

The beam sockets are buit on a mould with probably 2 layers of 18 oz biax and then transferred to the hull. The beams are placed into the sockets and then the system is installed into trued hulls.

The build is an epoxy/corecell/paint build. I am a little concerned about abrasion of the beam sockets in paint only. I had asked the designer, but also want to bird dog myself some.

If I used a polyester gelcoat, I would have differences laminating the polyester to the epoxy down below and any abrasion of the polyester would/could result in a leak down to the epoxy laminates. Not too worried there, but polyester and vinylester are foreign.

A vendor suggested an epoxy surface coat. Has anyone ever used Adtech ES218? He said I could pigment it white and get some UV protection even that way. Of course abrasion is a bigger concern. He said it would be very hard stuff.

I am having a hard time finding datasheet on the Adtech.

 

Adding pigment to epoxy only helps a little, the epoxy still won't weather well.

 

Not too worried; we’ll try to hide it with a coveror we’ll paint expose areas.

Adtech tcc 352 is what I am leaning to now. Is has better wearability.

 

Actually, you should use powdered aluminum, instead of pigment for better UV protection. No more than 10% (a few tea spoons per 8 ounces) per mix, but it's very effective and also improves heat resistance and sound proofing. If left unpainted the epoxy will still discolor, but the damage doesn't descend very far into the resin, before the aluminum blocks the UV.

 

Any wear resistance?

The tcc-352 might cost me 500$

 

Yes, though if additional reinforcements are used, you can get even more. What's your application method?

 

Brushing the paste/coating over a male mould. Let tack, two layers of 18 ox biax. Trying to decide to use vac or just hand laminate. The mould is vertical; so slumping would be a concern during any tackup. I told the vendor to go ahead on the tcc 352, but they sort of forced me into it (hotseat).

The mould has some twists and turns so leaning to hand laminating, but I might setup for vacuum in case the hand doesn’t work well.

Does that make any sense?

 

I never heard back from Paul on this post and sadly he passed away before he read my private message.

But for the forum members, David Halliday of Boatsmith Fl has recommended I use cloth reinforced neoprene over my laminates in the sockets. It is still fairly costly, but David said if I don't use neoprene, the sounds will be unbearable as there is generally some movement in the sockets and he likened the noise to screaming; not squeaking.

Thanks, again, to David.