How do I know what to choose from all the different types of cloth and resin available?
As for resins, your choice will usually come down to polyester, vinylester, or epoxy. Most performance boats are built of either vinylester or epoxy. Both are significantly stronger than polyester (and more expensive). Polyester resin is adequate for the majority of repair work and bonds well to whatever resin may have been used originally. For extensive repairs in critical areas of the hull you may want to consider vinylester (has the advantage of being slightly more elastic and is less threatening to work with) or epoxy (stronger and lighter but more hazardous). When it comes to fabrics, avoid fiberglass mat. Mat can be identified by fibers running in random directions with no semblance of a weave or pattern. Mat has the advantage of being able to easily conform to tight curves and corners but provides little or no strength, as the random fibers are not linked to each other. It is serviceable to use as a filler on the outside of a hull beneath the gel-coat or if you’re trying to buil
