2 inch hole fiber glass repair

Above the water line, I had a soft spot on the outside of the fiber glass.. I pressed the area with my thumb and my thumb went through the area. I have a few pictures of the supplies I believe I should be using.

I want to repair it and from my research here on the posts, I believe I have the correct process.

Clean area with sand paper...clean with acetone...wet 3 cloths together (one at a time and one piece larger than the other...hold down with a screw and string it thru hole to use as a inside barrier.
Use the resin and hold it from the inside out with the resin and screw...let cure and sand clean...use acetone to clean area...
use mat from the outside and continue process from the inside area to the out side area...

Am I close?

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

This is NOT the stuff you want to use fot fix this hole.
Do you have acess to the inside of the damaged area?

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair



I do not have access to the inside. Just the hole from the removed louver area.

And I thought I was close...

Muete

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

The arrow shows where the previously repatched hold is located.

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

So help me understand. This area was Previously that 16" area in your last picture that was patched and now it has developed this 2" hole??

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

No. The 16" hold is where the louver is located...I removed the screws for access to the back side of the hold which from the other picture is where I have the arrow.

There was a previously painted bulge in the area where there is now the 2 " hole which I would like myself to repair.

Thank you for your assistance.
Muete

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

The picture of the hole is in the introduction thread.

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

Your repair is NOT a core repair like this one in the video but... This video will give you a basic idea of how to make the repair. You will NOT have to make a piece for the core but the back up piece and the patching method and the cloth IS how you you fabricate the patch. Using the FILLER you have pictured is NOT the way to go. I'd recommend usin Epoxy since it is a much better glue than poly in this application and the Cloth you picture. You MIGHT need to use some filler to do some final fairing on the outside before final gelcoating or painting. Again the video is NOT perfect for your patch but it should give you some ideas. Basically sand the back side as good as possible, Fabricate a patch appoximately 1 1/2 inches larger than the hole. Make some thickened resin, apply it behind the hole and to the patch and then wth string or wire apply the patch to the hole. When it dries. Grind and feather the hole, create the patch with CSM, apply the patch sand, fair and gel coat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i97TlAdenv4

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

tough one.....hang on...answer comin.....im typing

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair



My office has a block on youtube. I will have to see video when I get home unless I can get past filter.

I could use the Bondo Resin then?

There is no core in the fiber glass. Just glass...

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

Yes, I know, that's why I said the video is NOT an exact match for your patch job but it will give you a visual idea of what needs to be done. I would NOT recommend the BONDO resin. It is NOT very good quality. Like I said you need a good quality Marine epoxy at least for the Backer Patch. You can use Poly resin for the Front and probably should if you are going to use Gelcoat to finish it off.

Let's see what OOPS has to say. He does this for a living.

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

ok.......that is an inside out repair.....but you cant get to the inside.

first....that stuff is not the right stuff as woodie mentioned.

the way to repair that is kinda complicated.

build a wooden packing plate that fits thru the hole.
put a screw in the backing plate. (something to hang on to when the backing plate is curing)
take 60 grit sand paper and rough up the inside fiberglass really good.
clean inside withe acetone.

remove gellcoat from area aprox 3 ins all the way around. get to the glass and clean with acetone.
feather back outside of hole clean again.
take 2 layers of csm and unwaxed poly resin and glass your backing plate on the screw side.
wait till the backing plate new fiberglass is still soft but really tacky.
rub poly unwaxed resin around the inside of the hole.
add another layer of csm over the last two on the backing plate but leave an edge.
quickly put backing plate in hole.
using vice grips. pull the screw so there is pressure on the hull from the force of pulling on the backing plate.....keep pulling for 30 mins..(same pressure...dont move it....yes tou can make a jig)...then let cure 1 hr (total 1.5 hrs)

make a structural peanut butter with resin (unwaxed) fine ground milled fibers and 1/4 inch glass short strand. mix at 35% resin. and catylize before you mix in the fillers.

remove screw in backing plate.
fill hole allmost to the top with structural peanut butter.
while still wet....glass with 3 layers of csm over hole.
one layer 1708 one more layer of csm.
let cure.
sand with 80 grit till flat.
repair gellcoat using standard methods.

thats it.

practice putting the backing plate in several times....once you have fresh csm and resin on it, it will be tough....after 15 seconds the csm will deteriorate and it will be tough to handle so be quice installing the backing plate.

good luck.....have fun.

cheers
oops

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

Yep, that's just about exactly what the video shows except they make the backer plate out of cloth and epoxy resin. You can do it either way. Main thing is you must use quality material an not what you are picturing. the Bondo resin has wax in it and will not bond very well. You may have to order your material online.

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

Woodonglass said:

... but the back up piece and the patching method and the cloth IS how you you fabricate the patch .... I'd recommend usin Epoxy since it is a much better glue than poly..... before final gelcoating ......, fair and gel coat...

Click to expand...

Um..no..You cant use epoxy for the repair..then Gel..

You dont need the inside lams for this repair...

You only need to build it up with 1.5 oz mat on the outside ( NOTHING MORE ) .. then fair ( for that small of a hole its not even required that you use any fillers for the shape.. just glass ). We are not talking about Below the waterline and its only Cosmetic.

** Using Poly Im gonna give you a Trick of the Trade Thing here shhhh **

1. Grind and feather your repair ( about where you have the gel sanded off right now )
2. ACETONE wipe.
3. Tape ( Yes Masking tape ) across your repair on the Outside ground out repair.
4. Get a nice New razor blade and cut the tape about 1/4" around the hole.
5. Mask off your circle repair with tape..then Tape/mask just under the repair zone so resin does not dribble down the side of your boat ( masking or taping newspaper just below the repair area works Great ).
6. Lightly resin coat over the repair.
7. Rip your 1.5 oz mat into little 2-3" circles ( Yes I mean bye Hand Rip your mat into little circles with no hard edges .. kinda little glass feathers all around ).
8. On a small piece of cardboard wet out about 4-6 little hand ripped circles of mat.
9. Pick up that layered mat lam and gently place it on your repair..gently on the middle because you only have tape for your backing and hand ( your using latex gloves of course ) kinda work that repair so its nice and smooth ( a bubble roller will really help at this point if you have one ).
10. Let that kick off..sand and fair..( should be to the shape of the repair and Solid glass with no bondo).
11. Light spray your gel..then smear around with a spreader to fill the pin holes. Then spray 3-4 coats as needed.
12. Sand and buff.

Bobs your Uncle .

One day Done in weather like this..

YD.

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

lol to the above.....i contiplated mentioning that method.......but one whack on that spot and

but lol..YD is correct....its done all the time.

and once again....poly will not bond to epoxy any where good enough.

use either poly and gellcoat or epoxy and paint.....never mix the two.
so again......its either poly....(gellcoat is poly) or epoxy whenever making any kind of repair.

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

IF Both of you would READ my second post thats what I Suggested I said use csm and resin To make the Patch and use the epoxy to glue it on the back for Stength. It Doesn't matter if it sticks to patch over the hole area. Using YD's method theres not going to be ANYTHING THERE AT ALL except tape. At least with this method there will be a solid backer.

"Like I said you need a good quality Marine epoxy at least for the Backer Patch. You can use Poly resin for the Front and probably should if you are going to use Gelcoat to finish it off. "

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair


I had previously went to my local WEST MARINE supplier. I showed her what I wanted to do and she gave me some product which scares the hell out of me. Marine Tex.

I was able to see the video and it is exaclty what I was thinking.
I was just not aware of the quality of products to make sure I use.

I asked the WEST MARINE lady about WEST SYSTEMS products and she said I do not need those products because I do not have an AIRPLANE.

I would ASSuME that she is correct.

Thank you all for responding. I greatly appreciate the detailed explanations.

Muete

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

Woodonglass said:

IF Both of you would READ my second post thats what I Suggested I said use csm and resin To make the Patch and use the epoxy to glue it on the back for Stength. It Doesn't matter if it sticks to patch over the hole area. Using YD's method theres not going to be ANYTHING THERE AT ALL except tape. At least with this method there will be a solid backer.

"Like I said you need a good quality Marine epoxy at least for the Backer Patch. You can use Poly resin for the Front and probably should if you are going to use Gelcoat to finish it off. "

Click to expand...

You dont need a backer..and if you hit that spot again your going to be reparing something bigger..

You can do it the Armchair glassers way..or the pros .. Ill fix that Solid in 2 days !!

Cough .. Im a Pro .. cough..

I Know what Im talking about and will not give you links on supposed repairs are done ..

Trust me..or not..your option...Im a glass guy.

Sons Bday .. time to go.. Good luck ..

UFCSDS .. YD.

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

I think YD has a point...that hole is simply a thin layer of glass in the first place. Backers and the like is over engineering it IMHO. Nothing wrong with over engineering for piece of mind, but it's not like YD is throwing tape over it, gel coat and calling it done ( which I bet could be done and look okay initially )

Use the method that makes you the most comfortable doing. The worst that can happen in this case is you end up with the hole again. Honestly, not that big of a deal. Fix it a hundred times and then start fixing holes for other people for $$ because you are now the expert. :facepalm:

Re: 2 inch hole fiber glass repair

Oh, and if you leave the edge ragged like it is, the patch will hold onto those fibers.