First you need to de-wax the backing plate. Polyester finishing resin has added paraffin to aid in the cure process. This wax, and the wax coating from what you laid it up on, must be removed prior to installation or nothing will adhere well.


Over the years I have found the dedicated, but overly priced, cocktails of chemicals sold by Pettit or Interlux as de-waxers definitely work. I only wish I could figure out what the chemical mix is because I bet I could mix it up for considerably less than what they sell it for.