Thread:

Best Materials to repair my boat??

Well I am in the middle of project baja which I just bought a month ago. I am rebuilding the jet drive and painting it...The list goes on....but the price was right so fixing it up isn't a big deal. Well last night I discovered she is going to need some repair on the hull. I can't believe I never noticed this til now (unless this is the result of going over a log on the river on my last outing, or if it wasn't that bad n the log finished her off). But the boat always seemed to turn better in one direction than the other before I hit anything so I suspect there was some prior damage I missed. If u look from the right side of the boat u can't see it but on the left u can if u get all the way under the boat. It doesn't take on any water at all from the damage because the gouging/cracks aren't that deep. I'll post some pics up but I was wondering what resin and all I should use to fix this. I am not new to painting or body work.....but I am new to boats and fixing fiberglass on a boat. So let me know whats some of the best affordable products I should round up to get this fixed and ready for me to paint. Do I just epoxy resin/fiberglass it, sand it, use some glaze over it, prime it and paint it with the rest of the boat?

any advice on where to start and what to use? It looks like the long scratch down the length is just the gelcoat thats gone. but I will inspect it better tonight since I have time to work on it. It is a closed bow boat so the option of cutting all the damaged parts out and fixing from the inside really isn't an option. Here's what steps and products I think I should use.

Get the broken stuff out, grind/sand the bad areas and clean with acetone then use Epoxy resin with fiberglass mat to make the repairs under there then use some wax paper taped to the boat over it while it cures. sand it to the contour of the boat, gel coat it and then paint over the gel coat when I paint the rest of the boat.

Sound like I have the right process for fixing this properly? or am I missing something

Hey guy , that sounds easy enough but .........................gel and epoxy are not very compatible unless used with with Duratec ( primer ) Express Composites' line of Duratec Products which now can be purchased by the Quart for $ 25.00 ,and comes in white , black or grey . (white- 714-002)

that's why I asked the experts . Usually when it seems too easy then you're overlooking something hahaha. any other suggestions or things I'm missing? or does it sound like I'm on the right path? I am using an imron style paint..will I even have to gel coat it or will it stick to the epoxy resin and that be suitable?

Originally Posted by 84lsvette

that's why I asked the experts . Usually when it seems too easy then you're overlooking something hahaha. any other suggestions or things I'm missing? or does it sound like I'm on the right path? I am using an imron style paint..will I even have to gel coat it or will it stick to the epoxy resin and that be suitable?

I guess for starters seeing that you are going to use epoxy for this repair what type of fabric are you going to use , and seeing that you are going to be spraying a paint similar to Imron you definitely will need a primer , and yes .................skip the gel altogether.

Chopped Strand Mat's / CSM , Not Recommended To Be Used With Epoxy .

grind/sand down until it solid, feather it out, build it back up from both sides. done deal.

it wont be too expensive, but it'll take a LOT of hours and manual labor and dust.

while you're at it, sand down the whole hull and have it painted or gelcoated. in the end you'll have a whole new boat. its your call if you want to go thru the hassle or just get another hull. one way you'll know exactly how your boat stands, condition, etc. the other will just be another hull that could do the same thing... its up to you how much do you love your boat?

84, first off just remember that if you make a mistake doing this repair it can be fixed considering it is only a dumb piece of fiberglass which means you are smarter then it , and yes we can & will talk you thru this whole project from the materials to each and every step that needs to be done , etc , etc . # 84 , i explain this often and the type of resin you decide to use depends on your wallet right down to the fabric , and if by chance you decide to go with www.uscomposites.com using there 635 you will not be disappointed because it offers a longer pot life which means more work tome with less waste , and no stank .