fiberglass repair...please help

[Saskatoon2005]

I have an older model fiberglass boat which i purchased not long ago. I have bought it while it was on a trailer. The trailer has 15 inch wheels and sits very high. The boat rubbs on the wheel wells and has cut deep groves through the gel coat into the fiberglass. It has not gone right through the boat...yet. I was wondering if I should put smaller wheels on the trailer and smaller plastic fenders on the trailer so I don't do any more damage to the boat....and how do I fix the boat itself. Can I just mix up some epoxy filler and fill it with that?

 

[jim dozier]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

Examine the cut closely. If it hasn't cut any glass and only cut the gelcoat you can repair it with something like MarineTex or other epoxy filler. If it has cut the glass you may need to do a full fiberglass repair to restore the original strength.

 

[Solittle]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

Without looking at a picture of your trailer it is difficult to give you advice. Can you raise the rollers or bunks?<br /><br />If it is not to bad I'm with jim on the Marine Tex - - great stuff!!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

If you can get to the inside of the hull in these areas, you can glass an area on the inside and then just fill the outside. If all of the repair needs to be done on the outside, use epoxy and glass, sand an area an inch or two larger than the cut.<br />When sanding, taper the repair area, so when the patch is finnished it is only slightly raised above the hull, then when its hard, sand it flush.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

The fact that the trailer sits very high could cause troubles launching and retrieving your boat. You may not be able to get the trailer deep enough in the water. You might want to consider much smaller wheels but you have to look at weight of the boat, other clearances etc.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

I am going to give you a pic of the cut shortly...and thank-you for the advise. I am so glad there is a website with so much information for newbies on the boating topics. I have had much help in fixing up my motor too on here as well....everyone is so helpful...I have told many friends about this website and they are all going to check it out....thanks again.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

okay, here is the pic you have been waiting for...I have a few more if you need...<br /><br />please email me so I can get it to you...or does anyone know of free pic showing websites....thanks again<br /><br /><

<br /><br />Notice the scratch is highlighted from the sun shining through it. There is absolutely no gel coat left on it but I haven't had it in the water so I can only assume that it is still sealed and will still float. Notice also that there is a red rubber material attached to the fender to protect the boat from damage...but i guess it did not work.

 

[Bondo]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

1st,...... Raise the boat on the trailer, so it Doesn't Rub anymore.........<br />Raising the bunks or rollers, or whatever it's sitting on 2" or 3"s Should be Enough........<br />Cut the Fenders Off,..... Whatever it Takes.....<br /><br />Then,..... If it was Me,........<br />I'd clean up the area around the Wound,+ Fill it with an Epoxy Putty,..... Sand it Down,+ Don't look Back,....... <br />A little Paint,+ You'll be Styling,.. As well as Boating.......

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

So does that mean that I do not need fenders at all on my trailer?<br /> Is there any fear of rocks damaging the boat finish? I do not want to have my boat exposed to rocks and such...maybe I should put smaller wheels on it and then smaller fenders.<br /> Any brands of fenders or wheels that you recommend?

 

[xltier]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

how about a trailer that fits the boat without rubbing.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

Considering the fact that I bought the boat motor and trailer for $250.00 I think I can manage to adapt the trailer for the boat...what I am asking here is how do you do it?<br /> <br /> Your reply about a trailer that fits the boat without rubbing sounds argumentative and if you are not going to help then please do not answer my post. Thank-you very much xltier.

 

[Bondo]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

That's sarcastic, not argumentative........<br /><br />Maybe My choice of words wasn't the Best Either.......<br /><br />I was Implying that you need to do Something,.. Anything to Not Rub the Hull..........<br />I'm Not Implying that you Don't Need Fenders......<br /><br />I Don't Know Your Resorces, Talents or Abilities,....Do whatever You Which.......<br /><br />I'd either Lift the Boat,...<br />Or break out My torches,+ Cut 3" off that fender in 2 directions,+ find a set of tires that'll fit...........<br /><br /><br />Whatever.....

 

[cc lancer]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

Saskatoon2005 <br />You will have to go up at least 5" to eliminate the fender rub. It looks like the trailer is narrow for the boat.<br />Probably the cheapest way,is to go with a smaller tire and rim, then drop the fender lower than the bottom of the boat.<br />Sand the area clean, mix some polyester resin and cabosil, or similar material, fill the hole, sand and paint it. <br />This is the cheapest fix I can think of. I would fix the spot ASAP, because of the issue of water getting into the hull. Good Luck!!!

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

Originally posted by Saskatoon2005:<br /> Considering the fact that I bought the boat motor and trailer for $250.00 I think I can manage to adapt the trailer for the boat...what I am asking here is how do you do it?<br /> <br /> Your reply about a trailer that fits the boat without rubbing sounds argumentative and if you are not going to help then please do not answer my post. Thank-you very much xltier.

Hey, don't remember if there is a Princess Auto in Saskatoon but you can get new fenders for your trailer for about $10.00 a pop. They'd be about 10" wide (enough to cover a 200 series tire) and may work great in your situation. If you don't have a Princess Auto in 'Toon and you want to replace the fenders let me know and I can pick some up, going to be up there soon.

 

[Realgun]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

That looks to me like the fender has damaged the boat before. I would think about new tire wheels and a smaller fender. If cash was really tight I would throw the fenders a way even though you might get some rocks thrown at boat and get smaller tires. Round fenders should fit better and are not that expensive might help a lot!<br /><br />I am not sure but the boat glass looks ok just need to be painted or gelcoated to fix any issue with water intrusion or UV breakdown of the polyester they used to construct the boat.

 

[Pun]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

looks to me like a sawsall and a little creative welding, you could mod the existing fenders not to rub.

 

[BillP]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

You can see daylight through the hull so that area needs to be glassed if it isn't just gelcoat rubbed off. The easiest solution is to take the fenders off and see how it does. I did it for years and it just gets the hull a little dirty when wet. If that doesn't work try raising the keel rollers and bunks. You may have enough adjustment on them as is without changing hardware.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

The area looks like it is very thin, I would add some glass to the inside of the hull, from the light coming through, it looks to be open on the inside. Polyester resin will work fine for this, sand it well with coarse paper, then make the repair a couple of inches larger than the thin area. Then just fill the outside. These supplies should be easy to get Saskatoon. <br />Just get out the saw and cut those fenders to fit, it looks like there is plenty of room with just some minor modifications.

 

[TexomaAv8r]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

I bought my trailer for $150. The steel alone is probably worth more than that..Another $100 in paint and misc nuts and bolts and I have perfectly servicable and safe trailer....Maybe you can shop arround for a deal like that.<br />Seems like trailers are kind of cheap.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: fiberglass repair...please help

My first job will be to remove the fenders. Then I will probably buy smaller tires. Then I will buy smaller fenders.