Glue U, The School You Shouldn't Skip

Posted by Jerry Briggs on 2 December 2009 | 4 Comments

Technical Director Jeff C. Wright explains vacuum bagging; Tech Advisor Randy Zajac demonstrates.

Each year the tech advisors at WEST SYSTEM put on a school that has affectionately come to be known as “Glue U.”  It is a two day professional level seminar/workshop on boat repair and composite technology. Over the years I have spoken to hundreds of people who have attended this school and I can say with complete confidence that I have never met anyone who was disappointed. Most who have attended schools put on by other suppliers rank “Glue U” amongst the best classes they have ever experienced. The classes take place in the Gougeon Brothers Research and Development workshop at our Bay City, Michigan plant. There will be two sessions: February 22-23 and February 25-26, 2010. The cost of the class is just $495 and includes 14 hours of instruction, including hands-on experience using WEST SYSTEM  for boat maintenance and repair. The price also includes your hotel accommodations and all meals. All you have to do is get here.

Here’s the agenda:

Day One

• Welcome – introduction, overview and pre assessment
• Basic Techniques – what epoxy is and how to use it, hands-on project
• Composite Technology – discuss theory and practice, hands-on project, vacuum bagging demo
• Composite Repair – discussion and demo of boat repair techniques and applications
• Fairing – applications and techniques demo
• Gel coat – cosmetic repairs over epoxy

Day Two

• Gel coat blisters – repair techniques and barrier coating
• Advanced composites
• Carbon/Kevlar repairs, SMC/Roto-molded repairs
• Tour of facility
• Special purpose epoxies – mixing and application techniques
• Wood basics – wooden boat repairs and wood in fiberglass boats
• Stains and coatings – tools and techniques
• Trimming composites
• Hardware removal – methods for removing epoxy-bonded fasteners
• Testing concepts – practical methods for in-yard testing
• Question and answer

This course is reserved for professionals only. Class sizes are limited and openings fill quickly. If you have questions or would like to register, call Julie, 866-937-8797, Ext. 1212.

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