PL Premium Construction Adhesive

[SunTime]

I see some using a expoxy to bond new transoms to the skin but it appears the PL premium construction product is able to bond fiberglass to whatever and is waterproff once cured. Given it can also be used as a filler/bonding adhesive would I really need to fill in low spots on the skin before setting the transom? In other words, is the stuff good enough to just trowel on and be a all in one filler/ bonding agent?

Also thinking of just using it to bond the the transom sheets together and then encapsulating the whole new transom in fiberglass, edges and all. As long as all holes are properly sealed why mess with mat and resin between sheets?

Thoughts?

 

[Rob B]

I see some using a expoxy to bond new transoms to the skin but it appears the PL premium construction product is able to bond fiberglass to whatever and is waterproff once cured. Given it can also be used as a filler/bonding adhesive would I really need to fill in low spots on the skin before setting the transom? In other words, is the stuff good enough to just trowel on and be a all in one filler/ bonding agent?

Also thinking of just using it to bond the the transom sheets together and then encapsulating the whole new transom in fiberglass, edges and all. As long as all holes are properly sealed why mess with mat and resin between sheets?

Thoughts?

ST both myself and Old hickory have used the PL Premium to bond the transom to the skin as well as to bond the pieces together. Old Hickory did an exhaustive search/writeup on PL Premuim. Just be sure you've got the transom ready to install as the PL sets quick. Take a look at this link at the bottom Old Hickory's got a post about it. http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/blog.php?b=25

 

[SunTime]

ST both myself and Old hickory have used the PL Premium to bond the transom to the skin as well as to bond the pieces together. Old Hickory did an exhaustive search/writeup on PL Premuim. Just be sure you've got the transom ready to install as the PL sets quick. Take a look at this link at the bottom Old Hickory's got a post about it. http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/blog.php?b=25

Thanks Cmpulse. I'll read into his thread some more. Sounds like proper prep is the key.
Also what mat did you use just to skin coat as I will add a layer of fiberglass to the skin coat of the boat since I did boo boo a couple times grinding out old fiberglass. For beef in the tabbing is the bi-direction mat best?

 

[Rob B]

Thanks Cmpulse. I'll read into his thread some more. Sounds like proper prep is the key.
Also what mat did you use just to skin coat as I will add a layer of fiberglass to the skin coat of the boat since I did boo boo a couple times grinding out old fiberglass. For beef in the tabbing is the bi-direction mat best?

You're Welcome!!! Once I got finished sanding/grinding the skin I added a layer of CSM 1.5oz mat. I also encapsulated the transom with the same mat as well, probably overkill. Then I used three layers of 1708 mat staggering the length/width on each layer once the transom was glued in place.

 

[Old Hickory]

well put CMP170, as a adhesive and bedding compound, it's hard to beat.

 

[wca_tim]

Another vote to use it. I used it as the adhesive / bedding for my entier stringer, engine mount supports, flotation boxes, deck, etc... rebuild last year. My transom of all things was fine. It worked just fine - especially if you follow the prep laid out in the posts / link above.

 

[Old Hickory]

here's a thread discussing PL Premium; most of us who have posted here were involved in this discussion and posted our results in the link below. Also as cmp170 suggested; be sure to check my blog; a couple of the post's discuss prep for the PL.

here's the thread link

http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11763

 

[bigredinohio]

If you are working with epoxy, I would stick to epoxy peanut butter for bonding elements together where epoxy has already been used. PL Premium is a poly based product which doesn't bond very well to epoxy. Something like a stringer will be alright where bedding is needed as long as you tab over the fillet.

Personally, I find PL a pain to work with doing fillets as it doesn't smooth out nicely and PITA to sand.

 

[SunTime]

Well I used it to bond the transom pieces together but after speaking with Joe at Mertons Fiberglass I'm just having him send me some of his stuff with my fiberglass. I'm sure it'd be fine with the ployester resin I'm using but Joe's a super guy to deal with and I'd rather support his buisness then Home Depots. ( nothing against Home Depot as it's my favorite store)

Joe was everything everyone said he was! A huge help and a wealth of information!

 

[Old Hickory]

If you are working with epoxy, I would stick to epoxy peanut butter for bonding elements together where epoxy has already been used. PL Premium is a poly based product which doesn't bond very well to epoxy. Something like a stringer will be alright where bedding is needed as long as you tab over the fillet.

Personally, I find PL a pain to work with doing fillets as it doesn't smooth out nicely and PITA to sand.

PL dose have it's limitations and is debated heavily among boat builders. It is an excellent alternative for laminating and bedding wood and Coosa components before fillet and glassing. It also will bond very effectively to epoxy and is being used by many boat builders as an alternative adhesive for laying teak decking.

When I began researching PL almost about 2 years ago, the data was limited to how extensive it was being used; partly because larger volume boat repair/builders guarded its use as a trade secret.IMO In part due to it's excellent adhesion; quick cure and economy.(who wants to let out how you repair so quickly and efficiently). The jeanie is out of the bottle so to speak and a quick google search will find several pages of threads and sites extoling the virtues of PL. It has it's detractors(most are not to use below the waterline on exterior repairs), but overall it is a solid adhesive with many applications in the marine enviroment. Here are a few threads I found; these were only the first two lines in the search .......there are many more.

http://www.simplicityboats.com/pl_premium.htm

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7068

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1927

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64316

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74996

When reading thru these threads; those that are sold on it......are really sold. Others still have some skepticism; partly due to not having worked with it, or applying it improperly. The PL concrete adhesive shows some promise as well.

As far as workability; I find it so much simpler than resins and fillers; less mess and easier clean up(I am not implying that it completely replaces epoxy resins or fillers). If care is not used, any adhesive can be messy. A sharp utility knife; wood chisel(use the"sharp" wood chisel in your hand to shave excess off after it has dried) and a sanding block make trimming and smoothing a snap....... never have had a bit of trouble. The key is knowing the limitations of the materials you are working; selecting the appropriate application and proper tools for its manipulation.

Hick