How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

[Stingray606zp]

Hello, New to the forum and new to Boats as well. Just a little background, I bought a 96 Stingray 606zp at the end of summer. It was in good shape and I looked it over well, so I thought. I was cleaning it up awhile back getting it ready for storage and winterizing it when I seen a bad spot underneath it. Im sure it's been there awhile and I just over looked it the first time. It's had what looks like Liquid Nails or something smeared over it at some point in time. Here's the picture.

What makes a spot like that come up? Even though it's cracked in a circle, it's still fairly solid. I pushed on it pretty hard just to see what would happen, It might be a little spongy,, but not much. Any way to fix it permanently and suggestions on how to go about it? Looking forward to the replies. Happy holidays!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

Some other folks may disagree, but a small area like that I'd sand the crapola off to prep the area and use a good marine epoxy to make a skim patch. Sand again and do a touch-up paint job. Then make a visual inspection for new cracks whenever you think about it.

If no new cracks appear, you're good to go. If you get more cracking you'll have to do an inside patch job that'll require accessing the area from inside the hull and making a larger reinforcing fiberglass patch.

I'm partial to the Loc-tite marine epoxy for repairs like this, but there are other marine epoxy products that can be used too.

 

[Stingray606zp]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

Thanks for the info! I'd much rather make the repair from the outside if possible. It's not visible unless you get under the boat, and plus it would be impossible to get to the inside without taking stuff up and making a big mess and a lot of work.

Should I sand it heavily in the bad spot to get a thick layer of epoxy there, or just scuff it up and kinda ''bandaid'' over it?

I'll check out the Loc-tite epoxy. Thanks!

 

[Stingray606zp]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

Any other info or advise on this fix? Also, anyone have a clue as to what may have caused it in the first place? Thanks!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

W/out more info & pix, it'd be hard to guess what caused the circular crack, and remain solid.

Where on the hull is the hole?

Where does the hole appear to be from the interior? The end of a bulkhead that is no longer firmly attached to the hull, and when the hull flexed, the bulkhead pushed the hull outward, making the hole?

Where does the hole appear to be relative to the rollers or bunks on the trailer?

If Jigs fix doesn't stop the cracking, there are few options beyond pulling out the interior of the boat, and repairing the damage from the interior & the exterior.

But the damage & it's repair will need to be inspected regularly to confirm that the cracking has not returned. You don't want it to act as a scupper directing water into the hull's interior & bilge.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

From the pic it looks like an air bubble left in the laminate from when it was made, its not uncommon, most are fixed before it ships to the dealer. You should be able to dig it out with a knife or screwdriver, it should leave a small crater, it's not structural so you can just fill and sand the surface smooth. You can use epoxy or gel coat, a pro would color match the gel to make it less noticeable, a DIY?er might use epoxy, either way is fine.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

Any other info or advise on this fix? Also, anyone have a clue as to what may have caused it in the first place? Thanks!

if it is below the water line, perhaps a blister, if above the WL, then perhaps a bubble left in the laminate during the hull layup at the factory.

 

[Stingray606zp]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

It's on the bottom of the boat, about 2'' in from edge....sorry I don't know my boat terminology! Standing on the port side (I did learn that one haha), It would be almost directly underneath the windshield, on the very bottom.

I can't get to it from the inside without pulling the carpet and cutting a hole in the floor, best I could tell. Unless they's another way. I wanted to see it from the inside, but could never figure out how to get to it without tearing up more stuff.

It's on the bottom, so Im not too awful concerned about the color matching. Although I don't want it some off the wall color, If I get it back close to an off white color it will be fine with me.

Thanks for more info. Ill get a better picture and more pictures as soon as it gets day light. Our winter season will be about 5 months long, I'd like to do the best fix possible at this time, So I don't have to worry about getting put on the trailer for another fix next summer.

 

[mr300z87]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

I had to repair a ding on my 93 Stingray 556ZP, I used marine tex with some brown tint I got at the marine store. With a little experimenting I was able to match the Stingray off white color pretty close. My repair was above the water line and was caused by a large bolt on a bulk head I was tying to. I have since sold the boat so I can not tell how it has held up. Good luck

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

I would grind it open to expose what exactly whats going on.

Grind about 2-3" circle ..

Looking like a small fiberglass mat repair at this point. You just have to open it up.

I dont think its a factory thing as they would have just packed it with bondo and spot sprayed it.

YD.

 

[Stingray606zp]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

I thought it looked like an old repair too when i first saw it, but they's no sign of it being before unless they done a really good job. No sanding scratches and the color is exact.

Maybe this weekend ill scratch the hole out and see what exactly is going on hopefully.....and get them other pictures i forgot to get lol. To much stuff to do......

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

I thought it looked like an old repair too when i first saw it, but they's no sign of it being before unless they done a really good job. No sanding scratches and the color is exact.

Maybe this weekend ill scratch the hole out and see what exactly is going on hopefully.....and get them other pictures i forgot to get lol. To much stuff to do......

I doubt you would be able to find my Gel repairs ..

I still think its a repair that needs a few layers of mat/resin. I dont think your going to be able to just fill it with some out of the can or stick filler. .. well .. not properly.

Good luck.

YD.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

Yep, if YD suggests you'll need mat & resin, its significantly more likely then not, that you'll need mat & resin. :high5:

And even more so if he cautions against only using a filler..

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

There is nothing in the pic to determine the size of the spot, could be small, could be large. Small only requires putty, large needs mat.

How big is it?

 

[Stingray606zp]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

There is nothing in the pic to determine the size of the spot, could be small, could be large. Small only requires putty, large needs mat.

How big is it?

Dime size, as the title of the thread says .

 

[Stingray606zp]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

I doubt you would be able to find my Gel repairs ..

I still think its a repair that needs a few layers of mat/resin. I dont think your going to be able to just fill it with some out of the can or stick filler. .. well .. not properly.

Good luck.



YD.

I know absolutely nothing about gel coat or gel repairs....or fiberglass boat repairs. I took A few years of Autobody in school and painted a few of my hotrods I used to have, but never messed with any fiberglass. A little Bondo, but thats about it.
I really wanna do it right the first time, or as close to perfect as I can get and still do it myself. What do you suggest YD?

I'll kinda tell what I had in mind, not sure if it'll be a good way or even work. I thought about grinding the bad spot out with a 40 grit pad and feather edge it back making about a 4'' circle or so. Then I guess use mat and resin to cover the bad spot and that would overlay about 1 1/2'' all the way around the ''dime sized'' bad spot. Just never done this and not sure exactly how to go about it. Would I need to grind the gel coat all the way off and get back to fiberglass before making this type of repair?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

Dang, should have re-read the title. That's why I said putty or gel coat in the first reply

Dime size may or may not, typically not, require glass and resin. If it's on the edge of needing glass I normally use a very small amount of mat and use gel coat in place of resin. Don't over fill or you need to sand it back down, just leave it slightly low and use gel coat to cover it.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

I know absolutely nothing about gel coat or gel repairs....or fiberglass boat repairs. I took A few years of Autobody in school and painted a few of my hotrods I used to have, but never messed with any fiberglass. A little Bondo, but thats about it.
I really wanna do it right the first time, or as close to perfect as I can get and still do it myself. What do you suggest YD?

I'll kinda tell what I had in mind, not sure if it'll be a good way or even work. I thought about grinding the bad spot out with a 40 grit pad and feather edge it back making about a 4'' circle or so. Then I guess use mat and resin to cover the bad spot and that would overlay about 1 1/2'' all the way around the ''dime sized'' bad spot. Just never done this and not sure exactly how to go about it. Would I need to grind the gel coat all the way off and get back to fiberglass before making this type of repair?

It's small, keep it small, you don't need a huge repair, it makes it much harder.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

I know absolutely nothing about gel coat or gel repairs....or fiberglass boat repairs. I took A few years of Autobody in school and painted a few of my hotrods I used to have, but never messed with any fiberglass. A little Bondo, but thats about it.
I really wanna do it right the first time, or as close to perfect as I can get and still do it myself. What do you suggest YD?

I'll kinda tell what I had in mind, not sure if it'll be a good way or even work. I thought about grinding the bad spot out with a 40 grit pad and feather edge it back making about a 4'' circle or so. Then I guess use mat and resin to cover the bad spot and that would overlay about 1 1/2'' all the way around the ''dime sized'' bad spot. Just never done this and not sure exactly how to go about it. Would I need to grind the gel coat all the way off and get back to fiberglass before making this type of repair?

1. The grindout is the grindout .. no matter what. You need to expose the repair for what it is. We all dont know for sure What repair it is as of yet ( though it looks like a plug repair was done ).

Filling with glass mat and resin is just using a brush with resin to add to your ( glass mat ). Its easy once you get the first one done .. I call them model airplane repairs.

I would suggest that Yes you do grind all the way to the fiberglass before you start your patching with the glass. You can sand that down .. skim coat it with some Filler just to fill the pinholes and seal the fiberglass hairs before you gelcoat .

Dang, should have re-read the title. That's why I said putty or gel coat in the first reply

Dime size may or may not, typically not, require glass and resin. If it's on the edge of needing glass I normally use a very small amount of mat and use gel coat in place of resin. Don't over fill or you need to sand it back down, just leave it slightly low and use gel coat to cover it.

I do believe its right at the Chine location .. which is why I am so agressive towards using Glass. ..

YD.

 

[jimmy wise]

Re: How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

i find it amazing the different ways people fix things. i fix things for a living. i notice its the same no matter what it is, people ask how to fix it from a person that does this for a living. no one ever wants to do it that way cause its alot of work. if you want a professional repair that looks good and your done with it listen to yd. he is trying to point out that there may be more to the repair than just the spot. i can feel it in his posts that safty is a concern to him. not being a donkey or making trouble but he sounds to me like he is very professional about repairs. thats why i ask why you do a procedure. then you learn all the things he has learned in his career. you can dig out the plug with a knife and fill it with silicon but its not fixed right.......thanks jim