Repair glossary

Accelerator

Little seen today, thank goodness! MUST be added to resin before catalyst and mixed in thoroughly! If not it IS explosive. So if you are unfortunate enough to get some resin that does not have the PA (pre-accelerated) suffix ASK! If it does not have accelerator in it already it will not cure (go hard) no matter how much catalyst you use. Add accelerator, mix in very well, allow to settle and add catalyst.

Acetone

Used to wash out brushes and tools as it dissolves resins. Also dissolves lots of other plastics so best kept in a glass jar! Often called Propanone. Nail varnish is a very diluted form of acetone. WILL cause dermatitis (skin disorder) if left in contact for prolonged periods.

Brush

A simple but easily forgotten item. Used to "paint" gelcoat onto a mould and "stipple" the resin into the matting.

Carbon-Fibre

Best seen in translucent resins as it is black in colour. Often combined with Kevlar to give good strength, light weight and stiffness, look for the black & yellow checker pattern. Beyond the normal amateur for use. It delaminates easily. Very expensive.

Catalyst

Possibly the most dangerous part of the whole system! Use with extreme caution! Can dissolve skin! Sometimes called hardener. Used to start a chemical reaction in resin or gelcoat. Add 1% to resin or 2% to gelcoat to give approx. 25 – 30 minutes working time. NOTE: Catalyst and Accelerator mixed together are explosive!

Chopped Strand Mat

A form of small fibres (approx. 50mm) that have been glued together in a random direction with a bonding agent to form a cloth-like substance. Can be used in all aspects of repair, often used for deck and seat manufacture where appearance is not important. Very rigid when bonded with resin. Cheapest form of fibreglass.

Diolen

Actually a polyester fabric instead of glass. Only to be used for the hull as it is very flexible, although very strong. Very sharp knife required. More expensive then Chopped Strand Mat or Woven Roving.

Fibreglass

The generic name used for a material made from molten glass. When woven into various methods (Chopped Strands, Woven Roving or Tissue) it is able to be bonded with a resin to create the kayaks we paddle today. Often used, incorrectly, when referring to Diolen, Kevlar and Carbon-Fibre materials.

Fluff Roller

Looks very similar to the rollers used in painting the walls. Used during kayak manufacture to 'paint' resin. A roller allows the resin to quickly be applied to large areas of fibreglass matting.

Gelcoat

The waterproofer! Very thick resin used on the first layer (outside) of a kayak during manufacture. Often used in conjunction with pigment. Requires Catalyst to make it go hard but will eventually become unusable if left. The side in contact with the air remains sticky allowing the fibreglass layer to bond with it. Contains no wax so the wax applied to a mould is effectively bonded to the surface of the gelcoat. If using for external repairs you must seal the Gelcoat from the air, esle it will remain sticky. It is also possible to add a small amount of resin for the repair to seal the gelcoat or include a wax in styrene additive.

GRP

Glass Reinforced Plastic. The generic name given to a laminate of resin and fibreglass. Was the most common way kayaks were manufactured but is now superceded by Rotary Molded Plastics (Plastic Pigs/Tupperware) designs. Still the most common method used for sea-kayaks.

Kevlar

Best seen in translucent resins as it is yellow in colour. As it is difficult to cut it is not often used by amateurs. Very good weight/strength ratio. Except for its colour it is similar in appearance to Woven Roving. Only Carbon-Fibre is more expensive.

Laminate

A sandwich of resin and fibreglass. Often has a layer of gelcoat that forms a shiny protective skin.

Liquid Wax

Gelcoat contains no wax. If painted onto a kayak it will always remain sticky. It is possible to add liquid wax (prior to catalyst) so when it is curing the wax will float to the top of the gel and seal it from the air. This then allows it to dry correctly. Another method is to add a bit of resin to the mixture instead of wax.

Paddle Roller

Aluminum roller used to squeeze air from the laminate.

Pigment

Used to create a colour effect on the resin or gelcoat. Add 5% in gelcoat for solid colours, translucents do not usually use pigment in the gelcoat. For resins use 2 ½% for solid colours, translucent colours only need 1% max usually ¼%. Sadly different colours cure faster than others. Basic rule, the lighter the colour the quicker it cures. Black takes forever to go hard. Yellow is often difficult to work as it streaks easily.

Powder

Often a form of talc. Used with resin to form a bulky paste. Often the stuff used to seal the cockpit seat to the deck or to fill the ends prior to drilling the holes for the toggles. Much cheaper to use than resin alone.

Release PVA

Polyvinyl Alcohol. Used on new moulds to break it in. Not required on moulds that have seen several kayaks been made. MUST be followed by "ordinary" release wax.

Release Wax

Used to polish the surface of a mould prior to applying gelcoat. It is essential that the surface is completely waxed and dry, else the kayak can stick to the mould. Most waxes no longer require PVA prior to use. Check this is the case!

Resin

Thinner than gelcoat and is used to bond the fibreglass strands to the gelcoat and themselves to produce a laminate. Sadly not actually waterproof! Comes in many varieties always ask for marine quality. Most resins today are Pre-Accelerated. This means only Catalyst is required to make it harden. Resin will eventually go hard if left in the air.

Stipple

Stippling is the direction you move the brush when working with resin. Resin or Gelcoat must not be brushed onto fibreglass up & down or left to right (like paint). Instead the brush is lifted off the material and placed back down again. This action is called stippling. Gelcoat is painted onto the mould or repair, like paint.

Tissue

Very thin form of Chopped Strand Mat. For its weight it absorbs a large amount of resin. Very good for placing over Chopped Strand Mat to make a smoother repair.

Woven Roving

Very long lengths of glass thread that are woven in a criss-cross pattern to form a cloth. Often used as the last layer of the laminate on the hull of a kayak where its smoother surface and flexible nature can be fully utilised. It does not soak up as much resin as Chopped Strand Mat so can be used to make kayaks lighter or stronger. Almost the cheapest form of fibreglass.