repairing damaged fiberglass hull

[k5ranger]

i ran over an unknown object this wekend at santee cooper. i now have a large hole in the hull of the boat where the transducer was bolted. i can see the inner makings of the boat hull, just the outer layers of fiberglas destryoed.(i guess). is this something i can repair myself or do i need a pro? i am a hands on kinda guy with the will to try to repair for myself before i pay someone...understand??<br />thanks.<br /><br />let me add that i did not find this damage until i trailerd the boat, approx. 6 hours after running shallow. no excessive water was taken on to give me the impression i had some damage. i thought the motor just ran the bottom and nothing more.

 

[Solittle]

Re: repairing damaged fiberglass hull

Be glad to try to help. Can you tell us more about the damage? It would help to know a description - width/length/depth - and a picture will be ideal. I suspect that it will not be a big deal.<br /><br />In the mean time do some reading in the Project Boats section and play around with the red Search at the top of the page. Lots of do-it-yourselfers have been there and done that and have shared their experience here.

 

[k5ranger]

Re: repairing damaged fiberglass hull

thanks...i looked for the search engine before posting, i simply overlooked it.<br />the damage is about 2" wide around the hole. i can see the substructure of the hull.(just the outer white material was busted off..whatever that is.) it is on the bottom edge of the hull ang goes on to the bottom. (on the edge)

 

[VistaMan]

Re: repairing damaged fiberglass hull

It sounds like the gell coat has cracked off. If there is no hole right through then you should be able to patch with a gel coat repair kit. If so just make sure you clean and sand the remainig glass so the new stuff wil key-in.

 

[k5ranger]

Re: repairing damaged fiberglass hull

do you mean blend in when you say key in? i'll try and take some pics tomorrow, but there is no hole all the way thru the hull!!! sure sounds easier to repair gel coat.<br />thanks for the help and advice so far.

 

[Sal G]

Re: repairing damaged fiberglass hull

Mark means so it will adhere properly.<br />Doesn't sound too bad.<br />Does sound like a gelcoat fix.

 

[k5ranger]

Re: repairing damaged fiberglass hull

gotch ya!!!

 

[VistaMan]

Re: repairing damaged fiberglass hull

When you say hole right through do you mean you can put your finger through? What can you see in the hole, fiberglass resine or core material (balsa or poly foam). If so then it's not gelcoat fix but a fiberglass patch that will have to be done, bigger job but not impossible

 

[k5ranger]

Re: repairing damaged fiberglass hull

no...you can not put your finger into the hole. the area is about 1/16 or 1/8 inches deep. all that busted off was the white "shell". i can see what appears to be a structure covered in resin, kinda brown lookin' and hard as a rock. <br />thanks for all the replies.

 

[VistaMan]

Re: repairing damaged fiberglass hull

OK, it sounds like a piece of the gelcoat chipped off. Gelcoat is very hard and difficult to scuff but being so it is also brittle. If there is no water coming in then it is still structurly sound with no cracks. Get a gelcoat repair kit and follow the instructions and you should be fine