Water and sunlight can quickly break down unprotected fiberglass. If youre repairing a cracked fiberglass panel, as opposed to fixing a hole, its hard to get the cracked edges to line up on the outside so the repair will be invisible. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. Also, abrasions sometimes go all the way through the fiberglass and damage the hull s core, be it wood or foam. Below is the recommended repair process for cracks that go deeper than the gelcoat, but dont cause a large, gaping hole or change the overall shape of the surface. Few things are more disheartening to the boatowner than staring at the fuzzy edge of broken fiberglass. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. How to repair soft spots in fiberglass on a boat gone. In the remodeling of this trailer, i was left with many small holes from antiquated peripherals on the sides of the trai. Many people do not like working with glass because they feel that it is either a hard detail oriented ability to master.
First, remove all wax and grease from the work area by. I have a variety of spider cracks on the hull of my club 420 sailing dinghy. Try to remove minor gelcoat scratches by water sanding using a hard rubber block or hard piece of plastic. Remove any cracked fiberglass from the damaged area on the hull. As shown on the picture, the hull was foamed, allthough not very solid that might have caused excessive movement in the hull with the crack as a result. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. Send me a pm and ill get you a copy of hanles primmer for repairing fiberglass aircraft.
After the fiberglass repair was completed, we launched catsaway into lake. The repairs for the two will be relatively similar, but with a few extra steps if its cracked all the way through. One of the best qualities of a fiberglass boat is how easy it is to repair. Use this procedure to make small fiberglass repairs to cars, boats, or other fiberglass objects. This instructable comes from a recent project i have been working on that involves fixing up an old fiberglass travel trailer. A common fiberglass repair is replacing damaged core, often because of water absorption. The color is white, but since the boat is a bit older it has turned to a sort of creamy white. This show covers how to repair fiberglass stress cracks on your boat using polyester resin. Do your own fiberglass and gelcoat repair with epoxy resins, filler, sealants, and fiberglass repair kits from west systems, 3m, and hibond. However, the repairability of fiberglass is one of its best characteristics.
Climb aboard sign up for emails and stay uptodate on the latest news, events, and promotions. Get simple directions on making this boat repair, along with a list of the. Ever wanted to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat. This type of repair is necessary if you run aground, run into a rock, or have some of crack caused by age and use. Deep scratch on hull well if that is the case then you could use a product call marine tex.
Cracked hull repair, rib with 2 ft crack boat design net. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Repairing hull damage the whaler way by taylor clark. How to repair gelcoat, chips, scrapes and gouges yourself. Step 1 repairing a hole in a fiber glass jet ski body. If you have a structural crack that means the entire piece of fiberglass has cracked through. Since the hull of a boston whaler is constructed in a unique and patented way, the factory has provided special instructions for making repairs to this structure.
If you notice any chips, scrapes or gouges in the gelcoat exterior of your boat, it is important to fix the damage asap, especially if the damage exposes the fiberglass matting underneath. There are several factors that go into making a good fiberglass repair. This sort of damage can allow moisture to penetrate into the boats layup and cause gelcoat blistering down the track. The cost of a fiberglass repair on your boat will greatly depend on the level of damage, the materials being used with the repair, where you live and the professional you choose. A key to successful fiberglass repairing is quality materials and patience. In many cases including mine, there is no damage to the inner foam or inner fiberglass lining so there is no repair needed in these areas. Hole in the hull we discovered a crack sailing sv catsaway ep. Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. Repairing structural cracks involves several steps. Repairing fiber glass hull damage morro bay yacht club. Plastic hunter crack repair sailboat owners forums. If your damage is more serious than this, you will need to take steps to temporarily restore the correct while you make the fiberglass repairs. Winter downtime offers you the chance to repair any hull damage that may have occurred over the summer so that you re ready when the season rolls back around.
Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. And, they must be able to let water out of the hull, without letting it back in. Repairing fiberglass powerboat transoms epoxyworks. In the case of most fiberglass or smc sheet molding compound repair jobs, that means an epoxy resin and hardener, fiberglass cloth. How to fix a hole on a fiberglass boat complete diy guide. Another great quality of a fiberglass boat is that, once repaired, it looks as good. The hole will be filled with pieces of 10ounce roving to the thickness of the hull. Nov 16, 2010 how to repair personal watercraft hull damage. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. If your fiberglass repair is not too big, you can get away with buying a repair kit to fix the problem yourself. Fiberglass is used in innumerable consumer and industrial products from airplanes and automobiles to showers and insulation. Even with the surface clean and prepped, a mechanical bond is needed to secure the actual repair.
Stress cracks can help us understand what caused the damage. Apr 06, 2020 one of the best qualities of a fiberglass boat is how easy it is to repair. How to repair personal watercraft hull damage personal. Also the inside of the hull was spray painted and is pealing should i power wash it. In many of these repairs, the fiberglass skins are in great shape but need to be peeled off to replace the core. Because many lack the knowledge to repair composite parts and molds, damaged items are often replaced. Remove the loose andor cracked fiberglass and clean the general area inside the hull with 850 solvent, 855 tool cleaning solution or other suitable. Question repairing a brokencracked fiberglass hull sailboats. Chips and dents in the shiny hull of your fiberglass boat will happen. Cover undamaged areas of the hull close to the area to be repaired with newspaper. Youll need to thoroughly clean it and remove all of the damaged material.
How to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat the new. First, remove all wax and grease from the work area by wiping down the area with acetone and a clean rag. They may indicate whether something inside the boat has broken loose and. How to repair fiberglass finishings on boats, cars and other objects. Glass reinforced plastic grp, known as fiberglass or glass wool, is thin fibers of polymer plastic woven together with strands of glass. Many people do not like working with glass because they feel that it is either a hard detail oriented abil. Sand the scratch out with 60 grit to remove any loose particles, clean it real good with acetone then spread in the marine tex let it dry, sand it smooth reapply the sticker and youre good to go.
Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. How to patch a fiberglass hull patching a hole in a fiberglass hull is fairly easy. Hull repair is fairly easy for someone who owns a small fiberglass boat of their own. Fiberglass can feel complicated the first time you have to address an exterior fiberglass hull issue, but when you know the essential. Full hullbreaching cracks in fiberglass, wooden and thermoform boats is significant damage.
How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. Working with a fiberglass, or even a wooden hull, you will need to start by cleaning out the crack and affected area. The procedure is especially useful for marine applications. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. Then layer in presaturated fiberglass cloth, filling in the repair. Learn how to fix stress cracks, dock dings and other fiberglass injuries. There is a fiberglass repair kit on amazon called west system 105k fiberglass boat repair kit that is great for repairing cracks, scraps, gelcoat blisters, loose hardware, damaged keels and smaller holes under 1. Do they surround an area that feels just a little spongy, as already noted. This is also a good time to remove any damaged fiberglass cloth that supported the post. Or would it be easier to bring this to a professional. Not so with this fixhull repairs are all about labor. Although the structural members of the hull are designed to accommodate for these stresses by flexing, the skin of a fiberglass boat is rigid and responds to these forces and effects by developing weak spots where the fiberglass attempts to stretch. One of the worst things that can happen to any boat is damage to the hull.
How to repair a badly damaged fibreglass boat youtube. Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to. Eddyline kayaks a manufacturer of premier touring kayaks since 1971 with legendary designs by tom derrer. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the. Use the rotary tool and a pointed grinding bit to dig out the damaged gelcoat. Jul 26, 2014 transoms are major structural parts of fiberglass powerboats, especially outboards. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps.
The color is white, but since the boat is a bit older it has. Hi sailingjunkie, thanks for replying while the crack is thin i am not sure i would call it hairline, please check the attached pics. Many times when purchasing an old boat, there will be some fiberglass damage that you will need to repair. During my last trip my hull cracked, an almost 2 foot crack, lengthways, along a sprayrail. One quick and easy way to repair gelcoat stress cracks yourself is by using magicezy hairline fix a purpose built diy repair solution for stress cracks in gelcoat and fiberglass. When the boat was picked up from cape cod, a 6 inch crack was. After the patch dries overnight, scrub it with water to remove the amine blush a by. Aim for a 12to1 taper on the fiberglass, so for the thickness of your hull, this is 2 to 3 inches past the repair. One advantage that might not be obvious is the ease and durability of repairs. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting.
How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats youtube. These are the easiest cracks to fix as theyre not very deep. Make sure your boat hull or deck is not a painted surface, search around hidden areas for signs of primer or flaking. The good new is that you can fix minor damage without having to redo the entire boat from stem to. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. Bevel the edges around the damaged area and grind away the damaged part down to the fiberglass. How to repair fiberglass finishings on boats, cars and.
Large molds allowed entire hulls to be made as one piece with no seams. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Fortunately, if you have a fiberglass boat hull, there are repair options available which can remedy your problems. If i were repairing this canoe, i would fill in the crack with unthickened gflex, fill and fair the hull with gflex thickened with colloidal silica, cover the repair with at least one layer of 6ozyd fiberglass cut on the bias, and cover that with a dynel abrasion plate, mixing graphite powder into the gflex to give it a nice black.
Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to fibreglass. Epoxy is a little better, but if it cracked the first time due to stress even with glass in it, then neither one alone will be the right solution. To fix fiberglass that has cracked, you must first assess the extent of the damage and then prepare the surface. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube.
Unless you can stop the flexing, youre wasting your time fixing the cracks. Repairing hull damage the whaler way continuouswave. Hairline cracks, stress cracks or spider cracks star cracks that occur in gelcoat surfaces on fiberglass boats or other water craft are often seen as a cosmetic issue. How to repair a fiberglass boat hull from the outside. Transoms not only support the weight of the motor, they maintain the shape of the boat, they are a mounting point for holdowns, towing eyes and other accessories. Hello, this will be my first time repairing a hole in a fiberglass hull. Under these circumstances, it is important to reduce the exposure by beginning repairs quickly.
Tips and repair methods to avoid michigan fiberglass sales. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman. Repairing a hole in a fiber glass jet ski body ifixit. If it is a precut hole, you may still need to trim it up with a. I purchased the boat with the scrape on the bottom. Personally i dont really care for aesthetic appearance, but should i use fiberglass stain remover first to clean it off and then use a more bright white. Some wooden structure was added inside the hull for rigidity and it was bonded in with more fiberglass material. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. The time required for this job will obviously vary quite a bit depending on the number of cracks and how widespread they are, but should take no more than three hours per square foot of repair area. Apply per the instructions and allow time to cure in a dry, wellventilated place.
Composites offer numerous advantages over conventional building materials. The hole is about a foot wide and a half foot tall. The only way to build at that time used layers of fiberglass impregnated with an acrylic resin that hardened when cured. Previous episodes go over other types of fiberglass. Polyester resin has little strength on its own, so just filling the cracks with resin wont do much. Fiberglass is a strong and versatile material that can be used to make a variety of things, including bumpers, showers, and boats. In most cases, this only means sanding, but if the accident caused structural damage to the fiberglass fabric or the damage goes all the way through the hull or deck, you often need to cut away the damaged strands.
In the case of the fiberglassthermoform boats, id suggest checking with a boat marine repair shop for the former, and with the manufacturer for the latter. Dec 11, 2019 how to repair fiberglass finishings on boats, cars and other objects. Debris in the water and loading and unloading from trailers can contribute to the collection of dings and dents that mar your boats finish. While it is a useful and lightweight material, it can be damaged relatively easily. If the damage is significant, the boat should be taken out of the water and thoroughly inspected before carrying out any repairs.
Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures. Theyre not affecting the integrity of the boat, so dont stress out pun intended if you have a few. Check out our new website its pretty flippin awesome. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. I have 2 boys and will be completely redoing the boat. Get simple directions on making this boat repair, along with a list of the materials youll need. Jun 06, 2016 these are the easiest cracks to fix as theyre not very deep. While cleanliness is paramount, that is only half of the equation. Repairing a brokencracked fiberglass hull rc groups. I cut out a piece of the deck to reach the crack from the inside and have a look at the construction. The curve of the cardboard must match the hull contour precisely or the patch will be weak. How to repair fiberglass finishings on boats, cars and other. Family owned, proudly handcrafted by american workers and.
If the hole has been smashed in, it can be cut around with a finetoothed jigsaw blade. In this short video i take a minute to fix up an old bad repair. Bonding the original skin back onto the new core can save significant time and money. The thermoplastic outer skin wasnt such a good idea which is why hunter went back to. While a damaged wood boat requires expensive and intricate work, a fiberglass one can usually be repaired with just a few materials, even by people with only basic knowledge and skills. When the hole is backed, prepare the patching material.
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