West System & PVC

A friend of mine has a PVC canoe (coleman) and wanted to fill some nasty gouges and gashes that have formed from years of whitewater canoeing. Would West System be ok, or will it attack PVC? Also, what would be good for repainting the canoe? Is there an epoxy paint that would do the trick? Cheers, Scott S. Cal 25 #1651 Indefatigable

Scott Sauvageot wrote: > A friend of mine has a PVC canoe (coleman) and wanted to fill some > nasty gouges and gashes that have formed from years of whitewater > canoeing. Would West System be ok, or will it attack PVC? > > Scott: The problem is not that epoxy will "attack" the PVC--it is that nothing much will stick to the PVC. But the Gougeon Brothers have had some success using a propane torch just prior to applying the epoxy. I think it has to do with oxidizing the plasticizers. Contact their customer service reps, or maybe you can get their "Epoxyworks" publication on-line. It had an article a couple years back about doing this. I have an old Porta-Potti with cracked corners in the holding tank that I fixed long ago by roughing the plastic with sandpaper and then using epoxy & cloth. I did it before reading about the torch method and so far it hasn't leaked. But it's relatively well protected from flexing. On a canoe that gets a lot of abuse, I'd be more careful. Chris Campbell

With the proper equipment and materials, PVC can be thermally welded. There is also a product made by Oatey called Adhesive X15 for bonding of PVC. In most cases this will do as well as or better than welding. If you need complete information, there is a $100 book, Plastics and Composites Welding Handbook, available on Amazon.com and some technical school libraries also have copies. \Rog Cal 29+ #1 Swiss Navy Cal 2-30 #77 St. Lori's Comet _____ From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chris Campbell Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 9:29 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] West System & PVC Scott Sauvageot wrote: A friend of mine has a PVC canoe (coleman) and wanted to fill some nasty gouges and gashes that have formed from years of whitewater canoeing. Would West System be ok, or will it attack PVC? Scott: The problem is not that epoxy will "attack" the PVC--it is that nothing much will stick to the PVC. But the Gougeon Brothers have had some success using a propane torch just prior to applying the epoxy. I think it has to do with oxidizing the plasticizers. Contact their customer service reps, or maybe you can get their "Epoxyworks" publication on-line. It had an article a couple years back about doing this. I have an old Porta-Potti with cracked corners in the holding tank that I fixed long ago by roughing the plastic with sandpaper and then using epoxy & cloth. I did it before reading about the torch method and so far it hasn't leaked. But it's relatively well protected from flexing. On a canoe that gets a lot of abuse, I'd be more careful. Chris Campbell SPONSORED LINKS Boating <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Boating+sailing&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=S ailing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=KgsPLsahA8AB__qRyAt_XQ> sailing Sailing <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Sailing+boat&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sail ing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=oZUJLnrR0FEbvZ5o13Ffaw> boat Sailing <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Sailing&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+b oat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=eGOXnwatS3x0LYN3XxVdNA> Boating <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Boating&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+b oat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=yMCAyUrqzhoqLD5Ydiy-Rg> _____ YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS * Visit your group "Cal_Boats <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats> " on the web. * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com <mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe> * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Service. _____

Thanks! I'll look into these references. The gouges aren't all the way through, but we wanted to fill them and fair the bottom of the canoe. Is there a material that can be used as a filler for the pvc? I'm not trying to structurally repair an open hole or split, just fill gouges. Cheers, Scott >From: Chris Campbell <cl… [at] charterinternet.com> >Reply-To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] West System & PVC >Date: Mon, 05 Jun 2006 12:28:30 -0400 > > > >Scott Sauvageot wrote: > >>A friend of mine has a PVC canoe (coleman) and wanted to fill some nasty >>gouges and gashes that have formed from years of whitewater canoeing. >>Would West System be ok, or will it attack PVC? >> >> >Scott: > >The problem is not that epoxy will "attack" the PVC--it is that nothing >much will stick to the PVC. But the Gougeon Brothers have had some success >using a propane torch just prior to applying the epoxy. I think it has to >do with oxidizing the plasticizers. Contact their customer service reps, >or maybe you can get their "Epoxyworks" publication on-line. It had an >article a couple years back about doing this. > >I have an old Porta-Potti with cracked corners in the holding tank that I >fixed long ago by roughing the plastic with sandpaper and then using epoxy >& cloth. I did it before reading about the torch method and so far it >hasn't leaked. But it's relatively well protected from flexing. On a >canoe that gets a lot of abuse, I'd be more careful. > >Chris Campbell

Scott Sauvageot wrote: > Thanks! I'll look into these references. The gouges aren't all the way > through, but we wanted to fill them and fair the bottom of the canoe. Is > there a material that can be used as a filler for the pvc? I'm not > trying > to structurally repair an open hole or split, just fill gouges. In the old days at least, snow ski bottoms were PVC, and they made stome stuff that was melted into big scratches, as I recall. My brothers were the big skiers so my connection with that was tangential. Call a ski shop, if you live in snow country, or go the the internet. Chris Campbell > > Cheers, > Scott > > > > >From: Chris Campbell <cl… [at] charterinternet.com> > >Reply-To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > >To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > >Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] West System & PVC > >Date: Mon, 05 Jun 2006 12:28:30 -0400 > > > > > > > >Scott Sauvageot wrote: > > > >>A friend of mine has a PVC canoe (coleman) and wanted to fill some > nasty > >>gouges and gashes that have formed from years of whitewater canoeing. > >>Would West System be ok, or will it attack PVC? > >> > >> > >Scott: > > > >The problem is not that epoxy will "attack" the PVC--it is that nothing > >much will stick to the PVC. But the Gougeon Brothers have had some > success > >using a propane torch just prior to applying the epoxy. I think it > has to > >do with oxidizing the plasticizers. Contact their customer service > reps, > >or maybe you can get their "Epoxyworks" publication on-line. It had an > >article a couple years back about doing this. > > > >I have an old Porta-Potti with cracked corners in the holding tank > that I > >fixed long ago by roughing the plastic with sandpaper and then using > epoxy > >& cloth. I did it before reading about the torch method and so far it > >hasn't leaked. But it's relatively well protected from flexing. On a > >canoe that gets a lot of abuse, I'd be more careful. > > > >Chris Campbell > > > > > SPONSORED LINKS > Boating sailing > <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Boating+sailing&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=KgsPLsahA8AB__qRyAt_XQ> > Sailing boat > <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Sailing+boat&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=oZUJLnrR0FEbvZ5o13Ffaw> > Sailing > <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Sailing&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=eGOXnwatS3x0LYN3XxVdNA> > > Boating > <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Boating&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=yMCAyUrqzhoqLD5Ydiy-Rg> > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS > > * Visit your group "Cal_Boats > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats>" on the web. > > * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > <mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe> > > * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of > Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.1/355 - Release Date: 6/2/2006 > >

Scott, Are you sure it's PVC. Many canoes and kayaks (flatwater and ww) are polyethylene. Some of them are repairable, some are not. I don't think filling gouges has any real benefit. I've got some good size gouges in my ww kayaks. Its just a fact of life, rocks are harder and sharper than plastic. I've got a description of how to repair a plastic boat that I can send off list. The disclaimer is that I have not tried to and don't know if it works. Some kayak manufacturers sell repair sticks that can be melted in. The reference to the ski base repair method mentioned earlier is a p-tex candle. Bob From: "Scott Sauvageot" <rx… [at] hotmail.com> To: <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 1:06 PM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] West System & PVC > Thanks! I'll look into these references. The gouges aren't all the way > through, but we wanted to fill them and fair the bottom of the canoe. Is > there a material that can be used as a filler for the pvc? I'm not trying > to structurally repair an open hole or split, just fill gouges. > > Cheers, > Scott >

Check out marine tex website. They have sone things specifically for PVC but it sounds like you still need to touch the PVC. - David --- Chris Campbell <cl… [at] charterinternet.com> wrote: > > > Scott Sauvageot wrote: > > > Thanks! I'll look into these references. The > gouges aren't all the way > > through, but we wanted to fill them and fair the > bottom of the canoe. Is > > there a material that can be used as a filler for > the pvc? I'm not > > trying > > to structurally repair an open hole or split, just > fill gouges. > > In the old days at least, snow ski bottoms were PVC, > and they made stome > stuff that was melted into big scratches, as I > recall. My brothers were > the big skiers so my connection with that was > tangential. Call a ski > shop, if you live in snow country, or go the the > internet. > > Chris Campbell > > > > > Cheers, > > Scott > > > > > > > > >From: Chris Campbell > <cl… [at] charterinternet.com> > > >Reply-To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > > >To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > > >Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] West System & PVC > > >Date: Mon, 05 Jun 2006 12:28:30 -0400 > > > > > > > > > > > >Scott Sauvageot wrote: > > > > > >>A friend of mine has a PVC canoe (coleman) and > wanted to fill some > > nasty > > >>gouges and gashes that have formed from years of > whitewater canoeing. > > >>Would West System be ok, or will it attack PVC? > > >> > > >> > > >Scott: > > > > > >The problem is not that epoxy will "attack" the > PVC--it is that nothing > > >much will stick to the PVC. But the Gougeon > Brothers have had some > > success > > >using a propane torch just prior to applying the > epoxy. I think it > > has to > > >do with oxidizing the plasticizers. Contact > their customer service > > reps, > > >or maybe you can get their "Epoxyworks" > publication on-line. It had an > > >article a couple years back about doing this. > > > > > >I have an old Porta-Potti with cracked corners in > the holding tank > > that I > > >fixed long ago by roughing the plastic with > sandpaper and then using > > epoxy > > >& cloth. I did it before reading about the torch > method and so far it > > >hasn't leaked. But it's relatively well > protected from flexing. On a > > >canoe that gets a lot of abuse, I'd be more > careful. > > > > > >Chris Campbell > > > > > > > > > > SPONSORED LINKS > > Boating sailing > > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Boating+sailing&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=KgsPLsahA8AB__qRyAt_XQ> > > > Sailing boat > > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Sailing+boat&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=oZUJLnrR0FEbvZ5o13Ffaw> > > > Sailing > > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Sailing&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=eGOXnwatS3x0LYN3XxVdNA> > > > > > Boating > > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Boating&w1=Boating+sailing&w2=Sailing+boat&w3=Sailing&w4=Boating&c=4&s=65&.sig=yMCAyUrqzhoqLD5Ydiy-Rg> > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS > > > > * Visit your group "Cal_Boats > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats>" > on the web. > > > > * To unsubscribe from this group, send an > email to: > > Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > > > <mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe> > > > > * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the > Yahoo! Terms of > > Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>. > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >No virus found in this incoming message. > >Checked by AVG Free Edition. > >Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.1/355 - > Release Date: 6/2/2006 > > > > > Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

why wouldn't the "P-tex" type stuff used to repair teh bottoms of a ski work? Reggie >From: Chris Campbell <cl… [at] charterinternet.com> >Reply-To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] West System & PVC >Date: Mon, 05 Jun 2006 12:28:30 -0400 > > > >Scott Sauvageot wrote: > >>A friend of mine has a PVC canoe (coleman) and wanted to fill some nasty >>gouges and gashes that have formed from years of whitewater canoeing. >>Would West System be ok, or will it attack PVC? >> >> >Scott: > >The problem is not that epoxy will "attack" the PVC--it is that nothing >much will stick to the PVC. But the Gougeon Brothers have had some success >using a propane torch just prior to applying the epoxy. I think it has to >do with oxidizing the plasticizers. Contact their customer service reps, >or maybe you can get their "Epoxyworks" publication on-line. It had an >article a couple years back about doing this. > >I have an old Porta-Potti with cracked corners in the holding tank that I >fixed long ago by roughing the plastic with sandpaper and then using epoxy >& cloth. I did it before reading about the torch method and so far it >hasn't leaked. But it's relatively well protected from flexing. On a >canoe that gets a lot of abuse, I'd be more careful. > >Chris Campbell