Repairing bow ding - FB

[Sunsetrider]

I finished up with the tinnie (just need to replace the steering cable next Spring) and have found me a beautiful 1976 Albin 25 trawlerette. When I bought the boat and the PO took me on a get-acquainted tour of the harbour it was berthed bow-in at a concrete dock with no finger piers. My first docking try with a single-screw diesel and no side-dock - a bit of minor shore panic resulted in the damage you see below. :embarassed: :facepalm:

The boat is now in my yard on blocks for the season and the fun begins, inside and out. One important task will be to address the bow ding but I don't know how to fix this sort of damage, being on the point of the bow as it is. Sug gestions welcomed! (I'll go ahead and post a few pics of the Manatee itself in the next post.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Repairing bow ding - FB



The Albin 25 is a Swedish built pocket trawler with a 36hp Volvo diesel engine, aft cabin for 2 off the large cockpit, pilot house, and typical cabin below with V-berth, galley and head. Cruises at around 7.5 kts and gets about 1.5 gph.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Repairing bow ding - FB

I finished up with the tinnie (just need to replace the steering cable next Spring) and have found me a beautiful 1976 Albin 25 trawlerette. When I bought the boat and the PO took me on a get-acquainted tour of the harbour it was berthed bow-in at a concrete dock with no finger piers. My first docking try with a single-screw diesel and no side-dock - a bit of minor shore panic resulted in the damage you see below. :embarassed: :facepalm:

The boat is now in my yard on blocks for the season and the fun begins, inside and out. One important task will be to address the bow ding but I don't know how to fix this sort of damage, being on the point of the bow as it is. Sug gestions welcomed! (I'll go ahead and post a few pics of the Manatee itself in the next post.
View attachment 215326

Ayuh,.... It can be fixed with abit of gelcoat, or white marine-tex,...

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Repairing bow ding - FB

Do you plan to continue to use the concrete pier for docking?

If so, I'd suggest you add a keel/bow guard after the bow chip is repaired.

Available on iboats & elsewhere:

The damage doesn't look too bad:

But has the fiberglass behind the gelcoat been damaged? If the glass fibers are fractured, the actual damage (on the other side of the gelcoat) may be a lot bigger diameter then it seems.

If you carefully poke & pick at the fiberglass w/ a small screwdriver or an awl, are the fibers loose or delaminating from each other?

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Repairing bow ding - FB

Do you plan to continue to use the concrete pier for docking?

Ha! Not a chance! I moved it out of there to a wooden finger dock within 3 days of purchase.

I'm going to peruse the chandleries for a likely-looking product. Seems like this won't be as daunting as I feared.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Repairing bow ding - FB

Yep, Acetone wash out, Gelcoat paste and some sanding and buffing and you'll be good as new.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Repairing bow ding - FB

you can get gelcoat paste from here All Categories

and the same thru iboats gel coat paste - iboats

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Repairing bow ding - FB

I'll post a pic of my result . . . unless I screw it up of course!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Repairing bow ding - FB

Thats the beauty of gelcoat. if you screw it up, grind it out, start over, buff till perfect. then no one knows