While an endless variety exists of both generic and proprietary epoxy products for all sorts of uses, the POXY-SHIELD® epoxy resin and hardeners used in the GLEN-L Epoxy System were carefully formulated, developed, and tested specifically for use by the amateur wood boat builder. More than 30 years dealing directly with the amateur has taught us that any product used by the amateur may be used under the worst of uncontrolled conditions. Hence, any products used by our customers and recommended by us must be as versatile and trouble free as possible.

In our research and development, we tested and used dozens of resin/hardener combinations, both generic and proprietary. We found that no one product could fulfill every requirement that our wide range of designs could be subjected to when built and used under both amateur and professional conditions. Some products worked well under ideal conditions of temperature and humidity or with certain kinds of woods, but failed under less than ideal conditions.

In addition, while some products performed well, they often were extremely hazardous to use, containing agents or additives that the unfamiliar person should not be exposed to. Finally, since amateurs and professional builders usually are working to a budget, we had to make sure that the products offered the best possible value consistent with high-quality; they had to be products that we would like to buy and use ourselves. And because we could not find the "ideal" product already available at a fair price, we struck out on our own and developed POXY-SHIELD® the basis of the GLEN-L Epoxy System.

As you read through this manual we hope you will get an idea of the versatility of the GLEN-L Epoxy System. Please note, however, that the full benefits of the Encapsulation System occur only in new wood construction. The GLEN-L Epoxy Encapsulation System or the various applications for our epoxy products are not a way to restore or resurrect a boat that is structurally unsound. Even though the products that make up the system have countless uses and qualities well suited to restoration and repair work, the benefits that occur in new construction may not necessarily occur when used on previously finished craft.

Even in new construction, certain construction methods lend themselves better to the use of the system than others. For best results, wood hull construction should consist of so-called "cold molded" methods (including the double or multi-diagonal planking methods that use thin, solid wood veneers or thin plywood layers cut into strips), sheet plywood planked hulls, strip-planked hulls with or without coverings of thin wood veneers, and any variation where the hull structure would resemble a monocoque or "stress-skin" unit. Such craft are also often covered on the exterior with a layer of fiberglass cloth, primarily for abrasion resistance, using POXY-SHIELD®.

While the products offer numerous benefits in virtually any form of wood boat construction, especially as adhesives and for sealing the wood from moisture, those types of planking systems which are more subject to hull movement and/or are more dependent upon fastenings for strength rather than glue bonds may not yield all the benefits of the system. Such planking methods include carvel, lapstrake, or similar wood longitudinally planked hulls, especially those which depend on caulking for tight seams. Such hulls are not usually covered with fiberglass.

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