Well, all the brands have their pros and cons. For my last yak we used a no-name brand from a local distributor. It is similiar in properties like System 3, but really inexpensive. We picked up 2 1-gallon kits (3:1 mix by volume) for $83 and change. Now beat that! Downside: I was chatting with the sales yokel about amine blush and he replied with "amine blush, what's that?" Now that is a serious downside. But life is full of "on the other hands" and this has one too, this Polycon stuff has been really the best I've ever used. So, shop around, and save some money.

: I'm getting together my shopping list for my 1st 17' stripper canoe (I know
: this is a kayak board!!!) and I'm curious as to what's the standard in
: epoxy for a strip project. I've read a lot of literature & I'm curious
: as to what the seasoned builders prefer. System 3? West System? Raka?

: Here's pretty much what I've learned from reading various sources: West
: Systems is good & expensive. They provide great customer service.
: Their mix ratios and handling need to be more exact than other
: manufacturer's formulas.

: System 3 is another good product. Lots of people recommend their Crystal Coat
: for wetting the initial layers and then using the regular epoxy for fill.

: Raka seems to be used by several builders and is thinner than most other
: companies formulations. Is it similar to System 3's Crystal Coat?

: Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

: Thanks Bob H