Bote-Cote
Why Bote-Cote?
It's SAFER
It's EASY TO USE
There's NO AMINE BLUSH
AND It's AUSSIE MADE
Bote Cote Marine Epoxy System is based on modern Technology and is much safer to use than most other Epoxies available in Australia. We often have people who are sensitive to old technology Epoxies still able to use Bote-Cote. You can read how Bote Cote is safer than other epoxies in our Information Sheet titled Hypersensitivity to Epoxy.
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BOTE- COTE is an easy to use 2:1 mixing ratio, which is a low toxic formulation free of amine blush under all climatic conditions.
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BOTE-COTE is solvent-free and therefore non-flammable
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BOTE- COTE is easily removed from the skin with citrus-based hand cleaner or white vinegar.
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BOTE- COTE Marine Epoxy System preserves timber's natural beauty and warmth, vastly reducing wooden boats maintenance requirements. In fact, a modern wood/ epoxy composite boat requires no more maintenance than a fiberglass boat.
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BOTE- COTE even has a non-yellowing UV retarding formulation used to enhance clear exterior finishes and seals the timber making it waterproof.
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BOTE-COTE Marine Epoxy Resin is available with four hardeners to handle all climatic conditions and user requirements:
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Non-Yellowing
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Standard
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Fast
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Tropical
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Bote - Cote Information Sheets
Solvents in Epoxy
Solvents in large quantities in Epoxies are detrimental to their waterproofing capabilities and reduce the epoxies strength considerably. No more than 10% Acetone should be added to Bote Cote when wetting out Fibreglass cloth, this should be the only time this is done. For further information on the porosity of surfaces that are treated with epoxy with high solvent concentrations - read the article written by Dr Bruce McConkey on the findings of his simple experiment titled Water Resistance of Epoxy Coatings. This article also contains a cost analysis of applying three coats of Bote Cote Epoxy compared to applying a solvent-based Epoxy and the two coats of a high solids epoxy resin over it. The time and cost are just not worth it.
Examples of Mourikis Gaboon sealed and coated with Bote Cote on a new moth scow sailing dinghy.
Problems using solvents in Epoxy Resins
Solvent-based epoxies have serious limitations even if it is one of the well-known brands and is not a cost-effective option as shown in the cost analysis in the solvents in the epoxy brochure. Never use solvent-based Epoxy to densify timber coatings because:
The cured finish is not waterproof and is very porous, the large release of solvents is no good for the environment. Also, the porosity in the epoxy has significantly less strength than using a high solids epoxy such as BOTE COTE. Buying Acetone and Bote Cote and mixing a 50:50 ratio would be much cheaper, but it is not the solution, you should never add more than 10% acetone to your epoxy mix. Check out testing by Dr Bruce McConkey which shows the limitations of solvent-based epoxies
They have to be overcoated with High solids Epoxy to make the surface waterproof.
Clear finishing over these products causes the surface to go very yellow as the additives in the Hardener are not Non-Yellowing. We have a non Yellowing Hardener for the Bote Cote.
The TPRDA which is added to the Bote Cote for the 1st coat will allow the Bote Cote to penetrate successfully and start building a waterproof barrier from the first coat. Refer to our brochure on Timber Saturation. The solvent in epoxies reduces the Epoxy strength considerably, as well. Check out the Gorgan Brothers website for their Technical Bulletin.
Use with fiberglass fabrics to sheath and reinforce.
BOTE- COTE and timber combine to produce strong light, easy to build, and durable boats.
BOTE- COTE is ideal for classic boat restoration, and has been used to restore many vintages and veteran boats to their former glory.
Use BOTE- COTE for all methods of modern boat building, including plywood stitch and glue, strip planking, cold moulding, and glued lapstrake and sealing other finishes to make them waterproof.
Boat Craft Pacific has developed a range of specially formulated powder fillers also sold by us, which are the safest available.
Bote-Cote filler powders are provided in three grades.
Sanding Filler~ Light-weight and Easy to Sand for fairing
Gluing and Filleting Filler~ For General Gluing and making fillets
High Strength Filler~ For those ultra-strong joints
BOTE- COTE seals and reinforces timber's inherently high strength-to-weight ratio.
BOTE- COTE makes building boats simple and safe - so much so that it is used by school students for canoe and boat building projects!
BOTE- COTE and our marine plywoods are used in the most up-to-date kit boats. BOTE- COTE epoxy is also ideal for repairing fibreglass boats manufactured from Polyester and Vinylester as it is much stronger than these two products. Details are provided in our brochure fibreglass reinforced plastics explained. Also, Polyester and Vinylester do not stick well to themselves and can delaminate easily. For further information on repairing fibreglass read our information sheet on fibreglass repairs and osmosis.
Timber Preservative and Reactive Diluent Agent
This contains a preservative to help deter rot, and it reduces both the viscosity and the surface tension of the mix so that it will penetrate further into the timber. The secret to preventing rot is to properly seal the timber up so that it doesn't get wet and this product in conjunction with BoteCote does this better than any competing system. Our application note 'Timber Saturation' has more details and test results. Make up a normal 2:1 BoteCote mix and add up to 20% of TPRDA to it and use the mix for the first coat on the timber for optimum results.
