Pike

Epoxy generates heat in the cross-linking of resin molecules to a part of the hardener (this thing being called an exothermic, or energy releasing reaction). The deal is the more the epoxy, the more energy is released and faster, too. Its a reaction that can get very hot in a very short time period leaving in the worst case, a smoldering blob. To be honest, I have screwed around and mixed up a bunch of epoxy and put it outside to see what would happen and trust me, it melts and goos all over.
You know, you can always do sequential pours to build up your end-pour. I've done now 5 kayaks (three strippers of mine, and two SG of others) that way. To wit: I angled the hull in such a way that the pour is uniformly along the angle of the cut-water. Next I painted epoxy on and followed with a really thick mix of fumed silica and epoxy that I had to spoon out. After a few hours I followedup with another mix and let set. Next day I did the stern the same way. After the kayak was finished, I did an endpour to fill the small remaining volume between deck and hull, and this time with the kayak vertical. My thinking was that it makes a reinforced area for the cutwater, and the last part to join and strengthen the end, all with smaller, less-heat pours. I made the mix really thick so that it was lighter weight when cured. The important point also is that the epoxy is itself a great insulator, and fumed silica makes a tremendous insulator. Things get very hot inside.
What do you think about that approach? Seemed to work for me.

: This afternoon I did the first phase of the slanted end pours: one side of
: the bow end. The stuff is covering the nontaped end of the deck-hull
: (duck-hell!) seam just as I wanted. But it has a lot of yellowish foam
: over it. Is this normal? None of my other epoxy batches ever had foam on
: them, and I mixed it exactly as I have always done (using measuring cups,
: resin first and hardener second, with the wood flour mixed in last).

: Also, I noticed that the kayak feels hot where the epoxy is. Not smoking hot,
: but it's a surprise considering that the room temperature is a mere 62
: degrees. Now I understand why Steve Pritchet had to douse his boiling end
: pours which, judging from the website photos, were done outdoors on a warm
: day.