Need Hull Repair Info

[wj3v]

After using my 18 foot fiberglass hull boat yesterday, when I got home I noticed a small (2 inch) crack in the lower part of my boat. It looks as though I might have run the hull into the fender of the trailer when I was loading the boat. If I use my fingernail I can peel away part of the top coat of fiberglass. It looks like paint chips. It is not damaged all the way through. Any experts out there on advising how to repair this? I am fairly handy. Under these chips you can see what looks like fiber cloth. Heck it might have been like this for a while, not sure. Thanks in advance.

 

[tremor]

Re: Need Hull Repair Info

If there's a good marina or even a West Marine type place near you, stop in and purchase Gougeon Bros. West System publication # 002-520; Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance. The outer surface that cracked was the "Gel Coat". What appears to be fiber cloth really is. The fibers are made of glass, thus the name. If the crack is only through the gel-coat, it should be gouged out with something along the lines of an old fasioned can opener to open up the crack. This will allow you to fill the crack with an appropriate compound of your selection. Bondo platic autpmotive would work, but I use West System epoxy mixxed with any of several different weight fillers. Which filler to use depends on the intended use. Read the book mentioned previously. Try to make the repair ASAP as water can penetrate those fibers you saw & cause blistering. Especially if you slip a boat rather than trailer. Good Luck, Steve

 

[tremor]

Re: Need Hull Repair Info

If there's a good marina or even a West Marine type place near you, stop in and purchase Gougeon Bros. West System publication # 002-520; Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance. The outer surface that cracked was the "Gel Coat". What appears to be fiber cloth really is. The fibers are made of glass, thus the name. If the crack is only through the gel-coat, it should be gouged out with something along the lines of an old fasioned can opener to open up the crack. This will allow you to fill the crack with an appropriate compound of your selection. Bondo platic autpmotive would work, but I use West System epoxy mixxed with any of several different weight fillers. Which filler to use depends on the intended use. Read the book mentioned previously. Try to make the repair ASAP as water can penetrate those fibers you saw & cause blistering. Especially if you slip a boat rather than trailer. Good Luck, Steve

 

[Gav]

Re: Need Hull Repair Info

Wj3v.<br /> Gel repairs should be made by first ensuring all moisture has evaporated from the area.<br />You then dremmel out the surrounding gel coat with a 1-1.5mm ball cutting head.When ground out ensure not even your finger touches the ground gel as this can give an unsightly mark at the end.<br />Try your best to use a gel coat with catalist and wax additives.It will bond with the repaired area better than anything and unlike autumotive products will not draw moisture.Fill the repair and cover with masking tape to induce acceleration.Finish by rubbing down the repair with 400 then 800 to 1200 wet & dry and finally burnish with a 1000 grit cutting compound.<br />If your eye was sharp at picking the correct color gel you'll be well pleased with what youv'e done.<br />Good luck.

 

[Firewood]

Re: Need Hull Repair Info

Let me add that I had a similar "phantom crack" in my hull. When the hull was damaged I was fishing at night, I watched for water and nothing ever came of it. 3 or 4 runs later the not so bad crack opened right up. It went from a 2 or 3 inch damaged paint area to a 12-15 inch crack. What I'm saying is dont under estimate it. Granted my crack was on the starboard side of the bow and took some pounding in the rough water which helped open it, but the way it looked to me was a small stress crack in the paint. I fixed it by climbing up in the bow. I took a sawzall to the floor and opened it up above the crack. I then sanded and cleaned with solvent the old woven fiberglass that was damaged. I took a plastic bucket dumped in 3/4 can of resin and hardner and soaked pieces of fiberglass in it. I first put small pieces of chopped up fiber glass and worke my way up to a super heavy matte. Then as the resin dripped out of the crack on the exterior, I took a squeggie and spread/smoothed it out. I let it harden overnight, sanded the exterior and put a finish coat of bondo on it.(I forgot to mention I sanded the bottom paint off at the damaged area about 3 or 4 inches beyond the crack,This way the resin and bondo could stick on both sides.) The trick is if you can cut open the floor to do a inside repair. On my boat no big deal, I pulled the carpet back and cut it open.)

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need Hull Repair Info

If you find a crack in the hull drilling a small hole (1/8" or 1/4") at each end of the crack prior to the repair should prevent the crack from getting longer. This relieves the stress at the ends of the crack and then repair with fiberglass. <br /><br />Good luck Fly Your Flag G*d bless America<br />Bob

 

[Gav]

Re: Need Hull Repair Info

What???????? on earth was that about???????????

 

[fishthebay]

Re: Need Hull Repair Info

The good old expoxy stick if your not to concerned about the looks. It turns gray and dries in about 10 minutes.