Best way to fix holes and do body repair

[ex0r]

So I have a boat restoration I am doing, and I am going to be removing a bunch of old stuff off the boat. There are alot of holes left in the hull where the parts are. (All on the upper part, not the lower part). What do you guys suggest for patching?

Some of the holes are just screw holes, others are fairly large holes where stuff was mounted, etc. There is also a couple of big rectangle holes that need to be patched where an old glove box was, and a radio was mounted that I want to patch. What do you recommend for patching these big holes?

I am thinking of for the smaller holes, apply fibreglass resin to the underside of the hole, and fibreglass body filler from the auto parts store on the top. Not sure what to do about the large holes and the large rectangle parts.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

Thickened resin and microballons make a great sandable filler for your small holes. For the larger ones, glass a couple of layers of cloth on the bottom side then use the same filler for the top side. Leave it a little low and sand out the area so its a little shallow then lay a couple layers of CSM mat on top and sand smooth.

 

[ex0r]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

Hmm, i've never had any luck putting material on the 'top' surface. it always manages to show through the resin.

The resin I am using goes on clear and dries transparent brown. You sure that's the right stuff to apply to the top of the surface? This resin when it dries is very hard to sand, seems like putting it on the top would make it hard to sand smooth and blend in with the rest of the fiberglass. Don't they make like a filler like 'bondo' for fiberglass, that goes on like a gel and dries hard that can be sanded off quite easily?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

Bondo is not for boats. It absorbs water. I am talking about Polyester laminating resin. Not the junk you buy at the autostore or Lowes. If you want to do a quality job on your boat, you need to use the correct material. CSM and laminating resin will do the filling and the Resin with the microballons mixed in yields a waterproof filler that is easy to sand and blend into the existing glass. I did it on my boat on the front deck, and I defy anyone to tell me where the holes were. One was as big as my fist. Where was it???

 

[ex0r]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

I know Bondo is for auto, that's why I said a product like it. The areas that need to be patched are going to see very little water, if any, so the threat of it not being water tight isn't a big issue. There will be more water coming in from people boarding/unboarding the boat than there will be near the areas i'm fixing.

As far as the resin, i'm not talking about the kind you buy at autozone, either. I got it from a marine and autobody supply store. It's a two part mixture with a fiberglass mat that you apply with it. Whatever the other stuff is you are referring to, and the microballoons, I have no idea as this is the stuff they gave me.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

What brand of resin and glass is it? Does the resin have wax in it? If so then you have to continue to lay your layers before the previous on drys. If not then you will need to sand and clean the previous layer before laying the next. You can buy 3M Premium Marine Filler but what I gave you is the formula for making your own. If you do a search here on the forum or read the threads listed at the bottom of your thread, you'll learn a lot about patching holes on a boat. It's your boat so you can do what you want. I'm just giving you the most commonly used methods used here on the forum by experienced boat restoration people.

 

[oops!]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

after you repair the hole.....you either add gellcoat (the same color of the boat) or paint the repair.

the micro baloons that woodie is talking about is standard equipment for glass repair. cabosil is another one.

after the repair is filled and covered with csm....the repair area is then sprayed or brushed with paint or gellcoat.....if gellcoat...it is sanded smooth and buffed.

the repair is invisible....

do a search on fixing a hole......or look in the link in my sig.....you dont get much bigger hole that that.
in the index......there is a part called a standard gellcoat repair.....

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

This is a pretty decent video that shows and tells what I am trying to explain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz5WCfipaNw&feature=related

 

[ex0r]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

wow, that video was informative. How did he get the fibreglass so smooth without the fibers sticking up over the surface of the hull? I've used fiberglass mat before, and when it's done curing the fiber sticks up higher than the original work and sanding just removes all the work I did.


Also, that resin based stuff he mixes up. That's what I was talking about. it looks like bondo for auto, but it's meant for marine quality.

As for the gelcoat, the entire top half of the boat is being painted a new color anyways, so matching the gelcoat cover won't be needed as it's all getting painted anyways.

So it looks like what I need to do, is put two layers on the back, just like they did, than on the front cut out the fabric so it fits into the hole like he did and layer it up like he did. Question is, do I overlap it on the edges a bit so that it bonds with the existing fiberglass?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

You need to watch the video again. It clearly shows the first patch covers the entire sanded area and then get progressively smaller. When you use mat, not cloth the resin actually disolves the strands of the mat so when you sand it will blend nicely. What he mixed was the fairing material I spoke about in my previous post. Resin and microballons.

 

[ex0r]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

I watched the video, a couple of times actually. I seen that he got smaller and smaller in pieces he used to layer up the mat. I wasn't aware that the resin dissolves the mat, which is why I asked how he was able to sand it smooth with the mat on the top of the surface. Now that I know that it dissolves it makes sense how he was able to put it over the sanded area like that and still able to sand it out smooth.

Thanks for the info and the video, it's going to help me out a ton when it comes time to getting everything patched up. Will post some pics after it's done to show the result.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

You also noticed hopefully that he featered out the area with the grinder. This leaves the area "Dished Out" just a bit and it will still be just a bit "Low" after applying the mat. This is what the final coat of Fairing Material is for to bring everything back to the same level as the surrounding good glass The fairing material is all you'll really be sanding and "Fairing" into the hull.

 

[ex0r]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

So, it's been quite a few weeks since I posted an update. I got it finished and it turned out flawless! Thanks for the tips guys, i'll post pics later. It's about ready for paint, provided this one question gets answered.

Around 3/4 of my rear, and wrapped all the way around my sides and front is a small metal strip with a rubber 'bumper' on it. Can I remove this and put it back on, or once it comes off does it damage it, and if it's removed can it be replaced with another one? I want to take it off so it's not in the way when painting, and I don't want to just tape it off so that later on it flakes. i actually want to paint underneath it properly and re-install it if possible.

Anyone who has experience with restoration, please chime in.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

Remove the rubber insert and there will either be screws or rivets holding the aluminum frame onto the boat. Remove them and you're good to go.

 

[ex0r]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

Awesome! Thank you.

When I remove the rubber, is it able to go back into the frame? I know I did that once on my car, and the rubber was actually glued/taped onto the frame and when it was removed it wouldn't go back in.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

Awesome! Thank you.

When I remove the rubber, is it able to go back into the frame? I know I did that once on my car, and the rubber was actually glued/taped onto the frame and when it was removed it wouldn't go back in.

Ayuh,... Generally speakin',... boat glass is pressed in, not glued...

 

[ex0r]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

its not the window, its the bumper that goes around the outside edge of the boat.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

Yeah he misunderstood, My instructions were sound. And yes when you take it out you will see how it goes back in. No problem. Its called bumper rail and you can buy new if needed.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

Ayuh,... Sorry,... My bad for not readin' the Whole thread....

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Best way to fix holes and do body repair

Around 3/4 of my rear, and wrapped all the way around my sides and front is a small metal strip with a rubber 'bumper' on it. Can I remove this and put it back on, or once it comes off does it damage it, and if it's removed can it be replaced with another one?

What boat are you working on ???

When you say rubber 'bumper' on it .. do you mean fastened to the metal rubrail..or Inserted Into the Alum Rub rail .. ?

Year/Make/Model would be helpful if your unwilling or unable to post up pics of your project..

Normally unless its a newer boat..or a Large company boat build..you will not be able to replace/purchase Inserts.

If its an older boat you will probably destroy the rubber insert if 'ripped' out .. you would need to use heat to at least try to preserve the insert. You will need heat to install the used insert ( sometimes its just not possible to reuse old inserts .. FYI ).

I would suggest If your planning on reusing the insert that you mark every foot and place it back Exactly where it came from.

Hope this helps ..

YD.