New Floor

Epoxy resin is the best choice since it has superior strength and bonding characteristics. Remember whichever resin you use, you are relying on a secondary vs primary bond. Here are some pros and cons for Epoxy vs Polyester resins:

Epoxy:
Pros: Stronger, superior adhesive (secondary bond), superior water barrier. Can be thickened with talc, etc. Low odor. Does not shrink.
Cons: harder to work with. Cannot adjust pot life. Can cause skin allergies with over exposure. Two parts must be precisely measured. High cost. Must use special fiberglass mat (i.e. no binders). UV intolerant

Polyester:
Pros: Can adjust pot life to suit working conditions by vary amount of hardner. Low cost. Less drain away on vertical surfaces. Fiberglass mat is readily available and compatible. Can be thickened (cabosil).
Cons: High odor. Weak bonding characteristics. Shrinks as it cures. Can boil resin if laminate layed up too thick at one time or too much hardener used. Hardener (catalyst) is highly toxic (MEKP). Inferior strength.

Bottom line, use epoxy if you can. Save money by buying your materials online from US Composites. Make sure you use "Epoxy Mat" and alternate mat and woven roving when laying up your laminate of equal thickness to what was removed. Determine number of layers to achieve thickness via a mock up that you can throw away. Start and finish laminates with mat. Make sure you purchase a groved roller to roll out air bubbles as you build up the laminate.

Thanks a lot y'all. I'm definately a beginner. Are there many options when choosing brands of resin/mats? I really want to do this right. Will the epoxy resin stick to the treated plywood and the silicone?

Thanks guys. I called US comp. and I'm placing an order this week. The guy really helped me out. Picked up the boat today. It's in my garage. Thanks again.

I use west brand epoxy expensive but Ithink it works well. We use it to build Iceboats with no nails or screws. Comes in fast or slow set It soaks into the wood Makes it just about rot proof and strong.