High-Strength Repair Kit

G/flex designed for tough bonding situations.

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As Practical Sailorcarries out a series of structural and cosmetic repairs on our various test boats, well have the opportunity to test several different brands of epoxy products in real-world situations ranging from bonding to laminating and sealing. Recently, a couple of small bonding projects allowed us try a relatively new product from West System, G/flex. The two-part epoxy system comes two ways: pre-thickened in squeeze-tubes or bottled in a liquid form that can be used for laminating or thickened to a desired consistency for bonding.

West System G/flex

 

According to West System, G/flex is particularly suited for tough bonding situations, where the substrate-fiberglass, ceramics, metals, plastics, and woods-is in less than ideal condition (even wet woods) and subject to expansion, contraction, or vibration. We used the pre-thickened G/flex to bond a corroded aluminum mast step to the damp fiberglass keel step of our 1972 ODay Javelin with good results. (We didnt bother to etch the metal, although this is recommended.) One of the chief advantages of West System epoxy is the excellent customer support. West publishes a number of technical manuals, and technical advice is readily available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern time) during the week.

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Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him at darrellnicholson.com.