Thats really a personal choice based on what you're more comfortable working with.....some guys like working with resin and accelerator drops and playing with working time/cures etc.....and some guys like working with epoxy which you mix exact ratios the same way every time...you just use different hardener speeds to give you more or less time, ie, slow, medium and fast....I personally like epoxy and don't mind the extra cost as its the strongest and most waterproof resin out there.....but VE is very good as well. There are some caveats with both.....VE has a shelf life...maybe 6 or 9 months once opened.....so if you don't use it, you may lose it...so then what will it cost you? Epoxy on the other hand can last for years...but some cheap epoxies can have an amine blush that migrates to the surface and keeps gelcoat from sticking to it...so most people paint over epoxy...but it can be gelcoated if you get the right kind and know how to apply it....Using a good quality epoxy with slow hardener like MAS, System 3, etc you can gel coat over it.......but for transom rebuilding with wood that's not finished anyway, I'd use epoxy.......for fixing exposed areas on the gunwale or hull sides that require gelcoat matching and bonding, I'd use VE......just my preferences.....many guys use either/or with great success...what are you comfortable with?
Check the prices of epoxy from places like Defender.com in CT or Boat Builder Central in FL...tough to find cheaper prices for name brand products.
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87 Fisherman 20
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