Resins have been an ongoing development since the 2004 MACT regulation was applied by EPA. The first boats post MACT were AOC Hydropel low HAP (VOC) Vinyl Ester and that proved to not perform to our preference, compared to what was previously used. We tested most every variant of low HAP VE before MACT and settled on AOC as the best in our results at that time.

The previous VE resin was run from 1998 through 2003 and was an absolutely great pure vinyl ester across the board, used throughout on all products. Recession times set in with 911 and competition using much cheaper products post 2000 to 2004, or 2010, is all that prevents this today. Paying more than twice as much for resin and again bumping glass costs for AOC is not appealing to consumers price shopping. We have large dollars in better product and just two weeks ago a three time BCB owners was using price to navigate a Premium model for $3,000 less in another brand, while not shopping apples to apples. We understand the relationship to price, products and quality, though price alone is no comparative.

In 2007 resins were changed to an extremely tough VE Barrier coat behind the Gelcoat and the most widely used (#1) marine resin, at that time, in the marine business, this was another AOC product. The barrier coat was a mess to deal with while it aged our facilites and equipment prematurely, worked great though was just to difficult and could not be cleaned once cures were initiated. It proved too costly on maintenance.

In 2009 we stepped back into an AOC Iso blended hybrid that was supported with HK VE Barrier that proved out in testing.

Next in fall of 2012 we had AOC develop our own hybrid resin that was from our spec window with different ingredients and properties, bought then as an X-2013 Experimental until recently in 2015 they gave it another number. Our sister company Nautique is presently testing this resin for their application. To date it is a BCB specific product. This remains used in all parts and rear laminates, plus all Advantage and Vision models. It has worked better than any resin to this time frame since MACT. We do remain using the HK Vinyl Ester barrier coat in a 20 to 25 mil thickness behind the Gelcoat to protect from crazing and permeation.

In 2015 (2014 actual) model year we moved the Premium line to AME-6001 pure vinyl ester (VE) resins on the first laminates. This resin is not a hybrid and not available earlier. This then raised those resin cost by appx. 240% on some of these laminates all were over 215% more, more than double. Obviously we felt it is much better! The product became available after Ashland purchased the product line and the tech specs from DOW. Durakene was a solid VE resin that had to be promoted on site and was difficult to use, plus expensive.

Ashland was able to bring out newer AME-6001 and AME-6441 as a result of the research they bought from DOW, previously used in Durakene. And we never were AME-5000(1) or AME-4000(1) fans as they were not pure, thugh a hybrid of some VE blended, they failed every time in our testing and felt they were more hype than guts.

We remain using the same HK Barrier coat in all applications.

Thats more than you knew and More than any other company will dare share. We will always continue to develop the bets laminate structure and shoot for above 38% Fiberglass content. Presently we have recently tested weight sampling on 8 different boat models with our summer intern (Kyle – UofA), his results display between 40.% and 43.1% fiberglass content by weight with the rest being resin. An extremely high ratio for open laminates. We don’t believe most production shops operate with this efficiency. Actually none we know of run this high of a glass ratio.

There you have it answered and future developing questions answered as well.