Erik,
What a way to start the new year. The very first posting is about epoxy versus polyester.
I am totally ignorant of where polyester and epoxy resin research is today. But I do know that if some genious chemist produces a polyester resin that can do all the things that epoxy can do he will not sell it for 5% more than other polyesters. It will cost 5% less than epoxy resins until he gets command of the market.
There was an ancient Keltic people who lived at the mouth of the Rhein River who developed this idea. Their decendents still use it today with great success.
Next, the people building racing boats are not building furniture. They build to win races. The life span of such a boat is determined by how long it can win and not how long it's hull is sound. Most of us would like to see our creations paddled by our decendents after we are gone. There are two different horizons at work here.

Charlie

: I know of 2 European top racing kayak manufacturers, who are using less and
: less epoxy. They go for the newer polyesters that apparently are as good
: as epoxy. Also they are MUCH cheaper. Second thing is, WHEN they still use
: epoxy on a boat, they will ALLWAYS vaccuum bag it, and bake it (to some
: 70° Celcius) which will make it much more stronger and stiffer. Those 2
: professional boatbuilders (located in Portugal) will NEVER apply epoxy on
: a kayak without the procedure described above.

: Now, I can only speak for myself: I'm just an amateur in boatbuilding. But I
: would like to know if these techniques are of any use for us. And IF, I'd
: like some ideas have about how to enhance the final result.

: 1) I wouldn't risk to damage a stripped hull, just for trying polyester, but
: if they use it with succes, why shouldn't we use it on the strippers then.
: Has anyone tried it ?

: 2) I've read a small post in the past about vaccuum bagging a real small part
: of the hull (1 Ft by 1 Ft approx.). I think it should be possible for us
: to vaccuum bag the entire outer or inner hull.

: 3) I won't ask for ideas how to bake an epoxied hull.