Kevlar repair

[SpeedySteve]

Hello to all. New here. Big brother has an issue with an older HydraSport bass boat. "WE" need to repair it. Have found some informative sites about repairing kevlar, but still wonder about whether a kevlar hull is truly a full kevlar hull. Or is it a laminate of glass with kevlar between or vice versa.
Does anyone know? HydraSport apparently has been bought out and their CS portion of site is not up yet.

I love old boats, especially aluminum. Wood ones too but they are just too much work. I love old outboards too, primarily the small up to the 70hp early 60's to mid 70's Johnson and Evinrudes.
Have fished from LaRonge Sask. CA to Padre Island TX, Atlantic Coast of FL (like the gulf side better) to Rockie mtns. I love it all. God's great outdoor gifts are just incredible. I have been blessed to have seen and enjoyed so many of those wonderful gifts He has provided.

SS

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Kevlar repair

Welcome to iboats.

Kevlar is the material used (unknown on how much of it is actually kevlar) and it is laminated normally with epoxy resin (fiberglass poly resin would work too).

I would repair it with epoxy resin because poly resin will not properly adhere if they used epoxy. Regardless of what was used good epoxy resin will work.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Kevlar repair

"Kevlar hull "can mean many things, the most common method of using Kevlar in a hull is to cut small strips and use them in the keel or chine, it is typically of no value structurally, but may have some value in preventing the keel from wearing through from frequent beaching.


To tell if the area you need to repair is actually Kevlar check the color of the fibers, Kevlar is yellow, glass is white (somewhat clear in the laminate).

Most Kevlar hulls use polyester or VE resin, but Kevlar and other high end fibers work better with epoxy. For the most part only high end custom boat builders use epoxy, yours should be polyester.

 

[Peteco]

Re: Kevlar repair

While Kevlar is usually used for abrasion resistance (like the poster above said), if I needed some addition abrasion resistance on my keel I'd use a high wear filler (West 422) or a slippery filler (like graphite, West 423) and make the topcoat of epoxy that.

Ideally, you don't want the keel to wear to the point that the cloth is being abraded.

 

[alphat1]

Re: Kevlar repair

Hydra sport bass boats are all Kevlar construction. Use an ISO resin and hardner and coat the patch fully with Kevlar, feather edge the complete hole and use cardboard on the outside of the hull as a form. Use wax paper over the resin and kevlar and squege it out so no bubbles are left.Once hardened do the same on the outside of the hull. Prime and paint once dry.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Kevlar repair

Alphat1,

This POST is almost a YEAR old. I doubt the OP is still checking it. Your info IS helpful but we usually discourage digging up these OLD threads and responding to them.