bertram31.com

What is the going price on the Groco APHS2000 bronze external strainer.
Does $120 sounded about right for (1)?

Thanks,
DQ

Doug,

The APHS2000 is full bore list at $120.00... Open an account with Lewis Marine Group and their wholesale price is about $84.00. By the time you cover shipping you'll be just below $100.

Call Bret Anderson - 954.684.7608, he's my rep at Lewis.

Br,

Patrick

Capt. Patrick,

The Lewis Marine Group is the sister company to Byfields Supply here in P'cola, and the Bret gave me the same pricing as them. The new list price is $173, like everything else, prices have shot thru the roof. So $115-$120 is what there quoting.

Thanks,
DQ

Doug,

Yeah, bronze & stainless, it figures... All of my materials and supplies are so out of hand I almost want to change professions again or retire completely. A gallon of premium polyester layup resin only cost $17 a brief few years ago. Now it's costing me over $50.00 a gallon. Starting to know how Bertram felt in '73.

Br,

Patrick

Capt Patrick,

Speaking of resins (epoxy / Poly / Vinyl / etc) what are the brands to avoid or the brands to buy?

Are distributer brands 'bad'?

Ever heard of 'Oceana' in Annapolis, MD? They are an account based boat material/products source.

Thanks,

Ian.

Ian,

Often dealer generics are as good as the big brand names, especially where epoxies are concerned. There are only a couple of epoxy resin manufacturers in the US so usually there's no difference between brand x, y, z, or the dealer's generic.

Sometimes however, a few low end dealers might diddle around with the epoxy resin by thinning, thereby reducing the solids ratio. There isn't much messing around with polyester or vinylester resins, but a dealer might be offering a resin from a low end distributor.

The only way to tell what's really being offered is to ask for a MSDS sheet on the product. The MSDS will disclose the manufacturer's name. Contact the manufacturer and ask about the solids content & viscosity of the specific resin. You can check the viscosity with a viscosity cup to verify that the resin has been unaltered. Be sure to ask the manufacturer what temperature they use to check their resin & try to check your resin at the same temperature.

If a company has been around for a long time, has a good reputation, and satisfied customers, then a lot of testing can be side stepped... Oceania is listed as one of MAS Epoxy's suppliers & MAS is a very well respected name in the marine epoxy world.

As far as brands to stay away from: Any resin that's sold on the automotive market or through home improvement centers or hardware stores. Bondo & Evercoat are specific trade names to stay away from.

A brand that I feel is a bit over rated and certainly the most expensive is West Systems. I rarely use their epoxies...

The two best names in ester based resins are Ashland & Reinhold. The best gelcoat comes from Cook Paint Co.

Br,

Patrick