Beginning Boat Restoration

[mudcatwilly]

I have just started on the resoration of my 16-foot lund trifoil fiberglass boat. I started by digging all of the household caulk out of the hull penetrations and now I am ready to start filling in some small holes and seal the front of the keel, which has worn and the glass is showing. What should I use to fill in the holes and seal the exposed fiberglass? Also, when I am ready to sand, what grit sand paper should I start with and what should I end with. After I seal the exposed glass and all the little holes and cracks on the deck, I plan to put a primer coat on the entire boat before I paint. I will post pictures as I make progress.

 

[guywithboat]

Re: Beginning Boat Restoration

When I restored my boat I only used fiberglass and/or resin to fill any and all holes. It may have been over kill on some, but at least I know it is strong. Belfore primering you should finish with 600 grit. After painting go upto 2000 for a better finish.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Beginning Boat Restoration

I have used Marine-Tex to fill screw holes in mie.

 

[sport15]

Re: Beginning Boat Restoration

Ditto with what guywithboat said.. If the hull is glass than you can/should used glass to fix it. If you are going to gel coat, be careful what you repair with because gel coat will not stick to everything.. I found out the hard way that it is not intended to stck to epoxy so all the epoxied repairs that I made to a whaler hull now have to come off...

Dave