Bondo instead of Marine tex...

[Scaaty]

What I'm doing here (16 foot Flatbottom, big Merc Tower of Power for push) is sanding off the old pin striping, and there is some hull/deck cracking, mostly from banging docks..no rub rail. What I simply want to do is a little Bondo to fill in the cracks, smooth out the half a$$ sanding job I'm doing to get rid of the stripe..5/16ths, and plan on doing a repaint of an inch or so and 1/2 inch new Pinstripe. Can I simply use some Bondo and Glaze if needed, instead of super expensive Marine Tex? Retired, want to stay that way, and just a project for speed instead off perfect looks, and make this rub rail half a$$ decent looking? Thanks!

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

Please reply to this one..

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

Bondo and glaze really are not made for water applications. You could use marine epoxy and mix it to a paste and use that.

Have you tried a stripe remover from NAPA .... it is an eraser wheel for pin stripes.

Most of the surface cracking started elsewhere and if do a quickie repair they will return and I doubt the bondo is tough enough to take future abuse. Go with a marine epoxy.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

I'm with VT on the quickie repair, it won't last if not done well. Bondo can be used successfully above the water line in certain applications, but it has no strength, so if you just fill or hide a crack it will normally return.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

Ditto, ditto! Use epoxy resin thickened with micro ballons for easiest sanding.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

Bondo is not waterproof enough. I sugggest using an epoxy resin like West System with a filler that will make it sandable.

You can use the 407 Low-Density Filler or 410 Microlight West System filler.

http://www.westsystem.com/

 

[iwombat]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

Automotive grade "Bondo" is totally unacceptable for marine filling applications. Automotive grade bondo is made with polyester resin and powdered gypsum (dry wall innards) The gypsum will soak up water where the filled area will eventually disintegrate. Automotive grade fillers containing gypsum usually have a pinkish tint.

Polyester Glass Filler is the marine alternative to "bondo". It is a polyester resin base contains ground fiberglass rather than gypsum. You can buy this is different "coarseness" grades. These products are often green or blue in color.

The Bondo Company makes both kinds marketed under the Bondo name.

 

[kalla man]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

get some fiberglass bondo from the hardware store (not much more expensive that reg. bondo) fill and sand and put on a thin flexable rubber rub rail to cover and protect.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE PROJECT.......
s99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/kallaman/

 

[iwombat]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

FWIW, standard practice for any auto application that needs to stand up to lots of vibration, like pro-street or motorcycles, use fiberglass fillers. They don't crack and separate like the gypsum-based fillers do. They're pretty strong, but aren't structural by any means. If you need to fill some gouges or scratches they'd be great. If it's a real crack and you need to restore some structural integrity, best to use something like marine-tex.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

I have a 14 foot flat bottom that I went cheap on and used Bondo. I wasn't expecting to keep the boat and didn't know how Bondo would hold up in marine application. But I tried it. I did use some glass cloth embedded in the Bondo. Then real quick and dirty, I sprayed it with $2 paint from Pep Boys so I could put on my numbers. The fill and repair is about 5 feet long, 6 inches high, and maybe 1/4 inch thick. It has lasted for 5 years now and that boat bangs around pretty good at about 55 mph. So, It's your boat and your money---

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

Thanks for the great replies. Went to town yesterday, did all the errands, and the last stop was either West or BW. 6:45, and both closed. DAMN!
Sounds like the water and Auto Bondo (thing is I have plenty) not that great an idea. Plus a good bounce off a dock thats never planned will put me back at square one. I'll do motors blindfolded, but I'm too impatient to do body work worth a rats behind. Seeing as how it would look a LOT better DONE RIGHT, I'll bite the bullet and spend a little time and money, dig out the bad spots, and do it the proper way. A rub rail wont work to well, way to many contours and radius to deal with. Still looking though. Most I find are for straight flat surface. Thanks for the expertise guys, much appreciated! We'll get it right (IF I take my time!).

 

[Solittle]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

While I love the stuff, Marine Tex is not the best solution for you. It is great for cracks, gouges and the like but I think it would be a terrible filler. You would be sanding it forever to get a smooth finish. It would be like sanding stainless steel.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

While I love the stuff, Marine Tex is not the best solution for you. It is great for cracks, gouges and the like but I think it would be a terrible filler. You would be sanding it forever to get a smooth finish. It would be like sanding stainless steel.

Ouch! Machinist for a living until retired, and as much as I love Stainless, its the toughest stuff to toss in a lathe and make something out of it! Does polish up nice though, and many nuts/bolts/bits on my Harley's. I'll go with some decent 2 part marine epoxy...thanks!

 

[kalla man]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

when you are at west marine next time check out the flexable rub rails. they aint cheep (i paid $160 for mine) but they are easy to put on, can round about any corner, and look great!! check out the one i put on...you can see i turned some pretty sharp corners..just hit it with the heat gun..

< img src = "http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/kallaman/DSC03427.jpg">

< img scr = "http://s99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/kallaman/?action=view&current=DSC03428.jpg">

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE PROJECT.......
s99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/kallaman/

 

[kalla man]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/kallaman/DSC03427.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/kallaman/DSC03428.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE PROJECT.......
s99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/kallaman/

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Bondo instead of Marine tex...

That looks pretty snazzy! I just looked at the catalog and there are a lot of selections. Might be a better idea. Still have my options open. I'm known to spend 3 dollars to save a buck, when if I did it right in the first place, would have been cheaper.