I'm new to boats. I have a 14' carolina flat bottom fiberglass that I bought for $700. Its transome and inner hull is in very sound shape, but for some cosmetic flaws. My challenge lies in the back of the outer hull. It's a large -- 1'x2' hole in the fiberglass hull that has been somehow ripped away. The core is some sort of very dense foam. This probably happened some years ago in a storm or when the boat broke free and ended up hooked on some rocks somewhere.
The previous owner had already done an excellent job of sealing up the hole with a thick epoxy which has bonded well with the surrounding fiberglass and the transome. But the epoxy is not flush with the rest of the hull. It sinks in about an 1" or 2".
My question is: Can I bring this hole flush with the rest of the hull and can I do it with fiberglass if I get a good bond with the expoxy? I don't want to have to cut the whole thing out and start from the inside to rebuild. What will ensure that a fiberglass rebuild over the epoxy holds? I want to do it myself.
I should add that my initial plan is to clean the epoxy well with acetone grind down the gel coat and fiberglass about 4"-5" inches out from the edge of the hole and then begin working from the bottom of the indentation with fiberglass layers that will expand as they come up flush with the hull. Eventually trying to bond with the original 5" of hull I've ground down. Then sand and gelcoat again. I though about trying to put anchors with fiberglass dowels in the epoxy that would help link it to the fiberglass rebuild. I thought about putting a rough finish on the epoxy or ridges or even divots to anchor the fiberglass.
Welcome any thoughts.
brgds
The previous owner had already done an excellent job of sealing up the hole with a thick epoxy which has bonded well with the surrounding fiberglass and the transome. But the epoxy is not flush with the rest of the hull. It sinks in about an 1" or 2".
My question is: Can I bring this hole flush with the rest of the hull and can I do it with fiberglass if I get a good bond with the expoxy? I don't want to have to cut the whole thing out and start from the inside to rebuild. What will ensure that a fiberglass rebuild over the epoxy holds? I want to do it myself.
I should add that my initial plan is to clean the epoxy well with acetone grind down the gel coat and fiberglass about 4"-5" inches out from the edge of the hole and then begin working from the bottom of the indentation with fiberglass layers that will expand as they come up flush with the hull. Eventually trying to bond with the original 5" of hull I've ground down. Then sand and gelcoat again. I though about trying to put anchors with fiberglass dowels in the epoxy that would help link it to the fiberglass rebuild. I thought about putting a rough finish on the epoxy or ridges or even divots to anchor the fiberglass.
Welcome any thoughts.
brgds
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