98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

[beech2000]

I have the engine out of my 98 SeaRay 190BR signature for cleaning and tune up. While waxing engine compartment I noted an area of fiberglass void when tapping with a quarter. I don't think its water damage but simply a void. I picked area out and now left with an area about 2X3" of damage. To me it looks like manufacture void and isolated to 2X3". Can I just do a localized gel coat fill in or should I go ahead and take further down. If later what suggestions can anyone offer?
Kevin

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

what's behind it? If just glass then grind the gel out and fill w more gel... done deal

Waxing your bilge???? Damn don't I feel like a slob now!

 

[beech2000]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted some glass voids

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted some glass voids

what's behind it? If just glass then grind the gel out and fill w more gel... done deal

Waxing your bilge???? Damn don't I feel like a slob now!

I was hoping it was going to be that easy. Thanks for the reply!. I don't like a dirty bilge.... or dirty anything for that matter but certainly not opinionated. You should see my sons room and I still think he's cool....

 

[beech2000]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted some glass voids

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted some glass voids

Did pictures of the void show up in post? I'm not used to a forum that allows newbies like me to add pictures.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

all I see is a bunch of tiny holes... can't tell anything till it's all ground out to one uniform hole

 

[beech2000]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

all I see is a bunch of tiny holes... can't tell anything till it's all ground out to one uniform hole

Can't I just fill in with the gel paste kit as is or do I need to do as you say and gut to one hole?
I will be using one of the I-Boats Spectrum O.E.M paint match gel coat paste kits.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

I can't see what is behind the gel there.... you can't possibly know the extent of the damage unless you grind it out

Also the gel needs a properly prepped surface to bond to which means grinding/sanding... unless you can sand all inside each speck you don't have that properly prepped surface

I'm not saying you have to go deep... if it turns out to just be a gel issue you might only end up 1/16" deep and find a good solid surface.

time to get out the dremel

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

As you said they look like air bubbles where the skin coat was poorly rolled at the factory. Just fill them in to look nice, they don't need any structural repair.

 

[beech2000]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

I can't see what is behind the gel there.... you can't possibly know the extent of the damage unless you grind it out

Also the gel needs a properly prepped surface to bond to which means grinding/sanding... unless you can sand all inside each speck you don't have that properly prepped surface

I'm not saying you have to go deep... if it turns out to just be a gel issue you might only end up 1/16" deep and find a good solid surface.

time to get out the dremel

Think I'll use a drum sander and 90degree high speed and pray it's not structural. Many thanks!

 

[beech2000]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

As you said they look like air bubbles where the skin coat was poorly rolled at the factory. Just fill them in to look nice, they don't need any structural repair.

Sure hope not. Glass layup and repair is not a strong point with me. I'm more of a nuts and bolts type of guy. Mostly nuts. Thanks all!

 

[beech2000]

Am I ready for the gel-coat?

Am I ready for the gel-coat?

I found a manufactures void in the engine bilge gel coat and used a grinder to remove down to glass.
Am I ready for the gel coat or do I need to clean the area first with MEK or acetone?
Also it's about a constant 51F temperature in my garage. Should I heat the garage a bit?

See pictures of damage in this thread.

 

[Decker83]

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

You need to clean with acetone before applying the gel.. My gel said not to use below 60F.. Does the instruction state if you need wax with the gel? Do a google search on gel touch ups..

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

Well???

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

Uhmmm, Yeah, I'd never advise applying any kind of Gelcoat in temps under 60? and preferably not below 70?. It just won't cure properly.

 

[beech2000]

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

You need to clean with acetone before applying the gel.. My gel said not to use below 60F.. Does the instruction state if you need wax with the gel? Do a google search on gel touch ups..

Wax? no instructions for gel-coat that I could find in box. Thanks

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

Looks like we're moving on to gelcoat:
Am I ready for the gel-coat?

Before a bit of grinding:

After:

It's hard to tell, but there's no damage to the underlying fiberglass. When you click your original post of the after pix, it looks like there's some loose glass fibers showing in the repair area.

 

[beech2000]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

Yes there were some loose strands of fiberglass but the grinding process removed them.

*I would upload a good close up I just took but forum.iboats.com response pops up now 4 times saying upload of the file failed. I tried with IE, Firefox and now Chrome. Same thing. Also tried another image and same error.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

Why are you starting separate posts about the same thing???? http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...ngine-out-noted-voids-636427.html#post4473930

 

[beech2000]

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

Re: Am I ready for the gel-coat?

I'm a newbie. I couldn't find the original post. My apologize

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 98 SeaRay 190BR - Engine out and noted voids

Image size is another reason to use photobucket. It'll let you post the image BIG & IN your post like how I reposted your pix.

The loose fibers weren't bad enough to have compromised the fiberglass laminations, though, correct?

If the newly ground divot is deep enough, it might be beneficial to put a layer or 2 of glass in the divot to fill it to just below the surrounding gelcoat surface. Then fill w/ gelcoat & sand/buff to blend the repair.