cheap fiberglass repair

[squirrel30668]

I have a 15 ft fiberglass tri hull and it has a few nics and dings in it. It has some flex seal that i put on myself and some yellow lookin stuff that was used by previous owner. Any ideas on how to fix my hull? Just to add in i have pressure treated plywood floor with carpet so i can't see the actual bottom of the hull from the inside

 

[greenbush future]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

got any pictures of the dings, floor and boat?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

[h=1]holes in hull[/h]

 

[squirrel30668]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

If i did id have no idea how to put them on there. just basicly wanted to know what i could use to repair that didn't cost an arm and a leg

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Mystery yellow stuff applied by the previous owner

Flex seal applied by you

Sounds like more then a few chips & dings. Chips & dings don't usually require extensive repairs. Covered by flex seal (not a great choice) and under some unknown yellow stuff sounds like some much more involved repairs could be needed. Not necessarily expensive repairs.

Well done repairs that aren't cosmetically perfect may or may not be what you're looking for.

Pix would show what the boat, the hull & the areas of damage (& the previous repairs) looks like so possibly someone might be able to help.

Pix posting details:
PHOTO Posting Instructions

Asking the same question, and getting the same answer: please post pix

Makes it easier to help you get it repaired & back on the water, but safely. Some repairs can be done inexpensively, some can not.

Seeing the general overall condition of the boat & hull, would also help assess how best to proceed.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Lemme guess, you're looking for something that's inexpensive and really easy to apply that'll make your boat like brand new?

... too bad there isn't any such product. Boat repair takes money AND hard work. The easy way out is to go buy a brand new boat!

I suspect the mystery yellow stuff is some type of epoxy that has suffered UV breakdown because it wasn't painted over to protect it from the sun, all of that stuff needs to be sanded off... and you might as well sand off the flex seal crapola while you're at it, it's pretty much worthless unless you're planning on installing a screen door on the bottom of your boat.

After long hard days of sanding you should come to this forum at night and read how to properly mend/repair/restore your boat

... or you could find some sucker to buy your fiberglass boat and then you could go out and buy an aluminum boat that's much easier and cheaper to work on.

 

[squirrel30668]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Well thank you but yes i know it will never be brand new but some people like me live off of disability and can't afford to go buy a new boat. Yes i know the flex seal was crap but i had no other option at the time. Already knew i had to sand it off. Just was trying to decide what to use. Im pretty sure its only one little hole the size of an English pea.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Just was trying to decide what to use. Im pretty sure its only one little hole the size of an English pea.

That's new info, might have gotten different responses if it'd been part of either 1st posts.

1 hole below the water line? Thru the gelcoat & the fiberglasss?

How much water has gotten into the boat hull below deck? How do you know there is no further damage from the water intrusion.

As I mentioned, often the minor exterior damage can have much more unseen damage below decks.

MarineTex is an epoxy based filler that could be used if you don't intend to make cosmetic repairs and there is no further damage from the water intrusion.... Epoxy mixed into a paste could also be used, but MUST be covered, it is NOT UV stable as Jib mentioned.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

If that's the case, you might want to try this:

Buy Bondo Bondo-Glass Fiberglass Reinforced Filler, Quart (US) Can (Net Weight 2 lb 9 oz), 12 Per Case 272 at Advance Auto Parts

or even cheaper:
Shop 3M 12.8 oz White Polyurethane Specialty Caulk at Lowes.com

... but exterior repairs to a fiberglass boat never usually work very well or last for very long, the best and longest lasting repairs are made to the interior of the hull on fiberglass boats.

 

[squirrel30668]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Ya but as i mentioned there is pressure treAted plywood flooring in the boat so can't get to it from the inside. What about that stuff that comes in a can and you spray it and it swells up and fills gaps? Yea its below water line. On bottom of boat. Can't be a huge leak because i only notice it once I've been on the water for like 6 hours and only then does the carpet get wet. Just on right side.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

I wouldn't use the flex sea you've already triedl, ever for hull repair, but I'd be more likely to use it then spray foam below the water line.

No response to either my suggested repair or Jig's?

You may repair your boat as you see fit though

Don't expect that 'just' because it's a small hole, and takes hours for the water to reach the topside of the carpet that everything is sound (and safe) below decks.

No matter where in the hull bottom the hole is, below decks must partially FILL w/ water until the water reaches the plywood deck's back side, then it has to work it's way UP thru the ply to the carpet. Then get wet enough for you to notice on the topside of the carpet.

The PT ply probably isn't original, why was it installed? Could it be overlaying the original rotten deck? I don't know that it is, but you really don't know that it isn't either.

If the previous owner gobbed epoxy on the hull, what else did they do in a less then ideal or 'correct' manner. Esp below deck where there is little to no way to inspect & assess........

IF the hole is 'just' the size of an english pea (?? Less then a 1/4", right??) how large a cavity are you shooting foam into? What is supposed to keep that injected foam connected to & well stuck to the inside of the hole, keeping it from pushing in & loose once water starts pushing against it while underway........

Boat & boat resto safely

 

[Watermann]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

I would start by removing all of the debris placed on the damaged hull area by wire wheeling off the flex seal and then sanding if the other yellow stuff is hard rather than rubbery. Once that mess is taken care of, get your power screw driver out and remove the screws holding down the front piece of decking. next take some good pictures of the damage or what you see next and post them up. There are some real smart guys posting ahead of me almost begging to help you out.

 

[squirrel30668]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Im tryin my best here. This is my first boat so i dont know alot. Don't really have a dad or anyone to show me anything. Im basically learning everything on my own. I apologize to everyone if Im being a pain. Im 27 and just really got to where my health would permit me to get out more. Im a 27 yr old childhood cancer survivor. so just please bare with me. the idea of taking the plywood up sounds good but i have no idea how to do that. This is kind of overwhelming

 

[squirrel30668]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

I read the pix posting thing and still don't get it. I do know how to send picture messages via cell phone

 

[GT1000000]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Hey "squirrel",
I gotta say, you are brave to be tackling a project like a boat, but it can't be any harder than the battles you have faced in dealing with your health issues, so buck up man and settle down...
We ARE and WILL help you get this problem resolved...BUT, you have to be ready, willing and able to take the advice already given and follow through with it...one step at a time...
Don't let it "Overwhelm" you, or get your knickers all in a tizzy...this boat stuff is not the easiest to do in the world, but it ain't rocket science, either...
Get a free Photobucket account and take a bunch of pictures, up close and from far enough away to help us see what you see...It is the best way for us to give you the best possible advice...
Then, when a few guys have chimed in and given you the ideas to follow through with, as best you can, get them done and report back to us...then the next step, and so on...
Lots of guys on here have had many of the same boat issues as you are probably experiencing and have a fairly good idea as to how to go about fixing them...
So, all that being said, bear with us and we'll bear with you, and together we can get you back on the water safely.
Best regards and good luck,
GT1M

 

[GT1000000]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

I read the pix posting thing and still don't get it. I do know how to send picture messages via cell phone

Can you send your pics to a website like Photobucket...??? or Instagram???

 

[squirrel30668]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Give me a few mins. I will attempt to make a photo bucket account. be back shortly. thank you for helping me.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Let's take a step back.........

Go set up a user name & password for photo bucket:
Photo and image hosting, free photo galleries, photo editing

What phone are you using?

Come back & post in a few once you get photobucket set up

GT's thread in his signature line has lots of good posts & info, lots of great pix, and lots of great progress to learn from.

Don't misunderstand any of the previous posts. They are not to merely harrass you. It isn't a small thing, problems w/ boats, particularly hull water intrusions........ It isn't safe to guess at you & your's ability to safely use the boat.

If you have time, I strongly suggest you read thru some of the other resto threads. Most fiberglass boats are put together similarly. You will get a huge education about what could be problems, how boats are assembled, how to best repair them & likely see the PIX PLEASE request in nearly every thread that doesn't have many. Also note the lack of posts in threads w/ little or no pix, that don't respond to direct requests for info, and the limited ability to help w/ no pix for references.

 

[squirrel30668]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Ok so i made the photo bucket account. Go there and search for squirrel30668

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: cheap fiberglass repair

Each pix you upload to photobucket will have an IMG code in a box.

Either clicking the text in the box copies it (it will briefly read copied), or highlight the text in the IMG code box.

Now you can use the right mouse button to paste that IMG code into your posts, it will look something like this:

IMG]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg618/jbcurt00//attachment.jpg[/IMG

Puts pix in your post like this:

There are settings in photobucket to make it more user friendly to YOU to use, but in those settings, select auto-size, that will get you the largest format pix possible for posting here.

There is an iphone & android app for photobucket, but I don't post pix from a phone, so I don't use the app.....