The Stevensons like vinylester resin. Some swear by polyester resin, because its cheaper and is used on most production boats. And some will argue that you're risking your life if you use anything other than epoxy. 

While production boats are often made from polyester resins, they are not usually using the kind of wood we use in building the boats.  So the arguement can be made that polyester isn't the best for laminating wood.  It can delaminate, blister, and otherwise ruin your day. But it is cheap, going for about $14 a gallon.  And it will protect your boat better than no resin at all (at least until it starts to delaminate, then it can hide moisture and rot until its too late).

So polyester doesn't really make my "approved list."  Vinylester does, even though its fallen out of favor.  It sticks better than polyester resin, but is almost as expensive as epoxy (which sticks even better.) Vinylester is actually more water-resistant than either polyester or epoxy. So its a good choice too. I found it for about $30 a gallon at Fiberglass Coatings Inc

But epoxy, which many, many people are now using, is a better adhesive. You find yourself using it to glue a ton of things together. And its about $35 a gallon. You need about 4 to 5 gallons for a Weekender, so the total difference in cost between using vinylester and epoxy is maybe $25. Going real cheap, you save about half, or $50 to $60 using polyester.  Doesn't seem worth the cost difference to me.

I like RAKA epoxy  but there are others out there with similar pricing.  Check out the Links Page, or ask on our Main Forum for what builders are using now.

In the end, its builder's choice.  Some people don't glass at all, and save not only on the resin, but also on the fiberglass cloth.  This is an option if you are using marine-grade plywood.  But, be aware that if you use any kind of fir plywood, even marine grade, it should be 'glassed to prevent it from "checking" (developing cracks along grain lines.)

Think Safety!
Boat building involves inherently dangerous activities, and each builder must be responsible for his own safety. Information presented in our pages are "builder to builder" communications, rather than from experts in the use of tools or techniques. We encourage all builders to read manufacturer’s instructions, follow all safety precautions, and be pro-active in seeking out more information on reducing the risk of injury or illness.