I'll support your comments on mech/chem bonding by stating that I have done enough new epoxy work on old (more than one year old) and green epoxy and have yet to see any of my work fall apart due to ineffective bonding. I could use the rebuild as a case in point. That project required a ton of new epoxy work over top of old stuff. The rebuild is holding up well. It appears to be as strong as the VJ, which takes on major abuse when I do like what I did today: paddled hard through heavy ice conditions, as the crow flies.

As long as the old epoxy has been cleaned and properly scuffed up with fine sandpaper, the bond will be strong.

I was looking at my posted pictures of the construction process of the rebuild last night. Man, that was quite a job. It was something to see the broken boat regain its original form and even better to finally see it on the water again. I'm thinking that I'm going to do a week long trip next year from the mountains to Edmonton in the rebuild. It seems as though I owe something to this boat for wrecking it then not using it for the cross-Canada trip.

I posted the link for the rebuild pictures just in case anyone wants to be inspired to fix up an old boat.

Robert N Pruden