Fiberglass repair question

[driver_dav]

This boat I just purchased sat for atleast 8 years so it is sun damaged. The top areas have some small cracks in the fiberglass that i want to repair, to fix these would i just sand it down and put some fiberglass resin over them, I have attached pictures so you can see what they look like.

 

[redfury]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

it's called spiderwebbing. You can grind the length of crack and then drill a shallow point at the end of the crack to avoid it from spreading after the repair. You can repair using resin and microballoons or you can get a gel coat repair kit and use gel coat to repair it ( since that's what you are fixing ).

The cause of the spiderwebbing though is stress, so you will want to see what's underneath those areas and determine why ( if possible ) the glass was stressed enough to cause the gel coat to crack. Sometimes it's a floor rot issue where the supporting piece has now sunken.

I see you are in Anoka. I get down there on occasion, it's possible that I might be able to stop by and take a look if you haven't gotten to it by then. I don't have any specific experience repairing gel coat, but I have been dealing with my project off an on for the last few years ( hoping to get a big hurdle out of the way this summer ).

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

Those cracks look like they're from very thick gel coat and a little flexing, thinner gel coat probably wouldn't have cracked. They can be a bugger to repair just because it's a hassle, but they aren't serious.

 

[driver_dav]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

it's called spiderwebbing. You can grind the length of crack and then drill a shallow point at the end of the crack to avoid it from spreading after the repair. You can repair using resin and microballoons or you can get a gel coat repair kit and use gel coat to repair it ( since that's what you are fixing ).

The cause of the spiderwebbing though is stress, so you will want to see what's underneath those areas and determine why ( if possible ) the glass was stressed enough to cause the gel coat to crack. Sometimes it's a floor rot issue where the supporting piece has now sunken.

I see you are in Anoka. I get down there on occasion, it's possible that I might be able to stop by and take a look if you haven't gotten to it by then. I don't have any specific experience repairing gel coat, but I have been dealing with my project off an on for the last few years ( hoping to get a big hurdle out of the way this summer ).

Yes it has a floor rot issue, the PO just threw down plywood over the top of the other flooring, it is going to be quite a project- the spiderwebbing, all vinyl, and flooring. It sat unregistered for atleast 8years, 3 fried tires still shocked the fourth one still holds air. So now I also need to find a good thread for flooring repair but it looks like you may now some stuff. I am very-extremely limited on money (wedding this august) I see that the fiberglass overcoats the plywood, how to I go about replacing it? can I just reinforce some locations along the stringers if they are dryrotted and throw down plywood and fiberglass resin the top then throw carpet? any help is appreciated

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

What are we working on?

 

[mxcobra]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

My guess is you need a sawzall, grinder, and chizals. to start.
Gut the boat all the way. then replace all rotted wood and reglass the whole boat.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

My guess is you need a sawzall, grinder, and chizals. to start.
Gut the boat all the way. then replace all rotted wood and reglass the whole boat.

You're Kidding, RIGHT!!!!

 

[mxcobra]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

Unfortanatly No its not a Joke - Thats what I had to do to start rot under the deck - under evan more plywood spells disaster....

Yes it has a floor rot issue, the PO just threw down plywood over the top of the other flooring, it is going to be quite a project- the spiderwebbing, all vinyl, and flooring. It sat unregistered for atleast 8years, 3 fried tires still shocked the fourth one still holds air. So now I also need to find a good thread for flooring repair but it looks like you may now some stuff. I am very-extremely limited on money (wedding this august) I see that the fiberglass overcoats the plywood, how to I go about replacing it? can I just reinforce some locations along the stringers if they are dryrotted and throw down plywood and fiberglass resin the top then throw carpet? any help is appreciated

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

Ok, I gotcha. I thought you were referring to the spider cracking.

 

[driver_dav]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

Question about flooring fiberglass repair, at my local store they have two kinds of fiberglass cloths, one is a nice weave and the other is a crisscrossed mess like the bottom of a tub, do I just use the second one, put down treated plywood, mold the fiberglass apply resin then carpet?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

How much of an area are you repairing and what exactly are you repairing? Typically the stuff you get at the local store is very light weight (.75 oz Chopped Strand mat the crisscrossed stuff ) and 3-4 oz Cloth (the woven stuff) This is not the best stuff to use for your boat. The resin is typically more expensive too, and it contains wax which is problematic in itself.

 

[mxcobra]

Re: Fiberglass repair question

probly going to need both types off cloth csm and the woven- gallens of resin-plus you need dryed outdoor plywood not green board.
I would check out woody's threads and mine before you continue......