How to repair a Dime sized bad spot in fiberglass hull

[ondarvr]

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

I did a training class for a customer on this type of repair, it was for the field repair crew. From first touching the surface to the final buff was 28 minutes. The products we used had a fast gel time and it was warm, so it went quick. This was from breaking it open, sanding, filling, spraying, sanding, buffing, and cleanup.

 

[ondarvr]

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

How the repair is done depends on what you find when you open it up, this can't be predetermined, there is no benefit to overdoing it though, it only creates more work. A repair like this can be done in the size of a quarter, or a basket ball.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

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

You got that post spot on man !!

Thats why I leave so many threads Alone !! . .. Im like whatever and go back to my kids playing Donkey Kong on the Wii ..

You ever need anything .. you PM me JIM .. Im serious ! PM me anytime.

YD.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

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

How the repair is done depends on what you find when you open it up, this can't be predetermined, there is no benefit to overdoing it though, it only creates more work. A repair like this can be done in the size of a quarter, or a basket ball.

Kinda what I said eh ..

YD.

 

[Stingray606zp]

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

Thanks for all the replys, i really do! As soon as i get home from work one evening before dark, or this weekend, ill pull the gel coat off and see whats going on. Ill take some more pictures and we'll go from there. Thanks again!

 

[jimmy wise]

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

Yd thanks I will. I see people day in and out trying to save money and time. All t. he guys on here that give advice are good. I'm just getting tired of people wasting the time doing stuff over.

 

[Stingray606zp]

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

Yd thanks I will. I see people day in and out trying to save money and time. All t. he guys on here that give advice are good. I'm just getting tired of people wasting the time doing stuff over.

In my expierence, saving a dollar now will cost ya 2 dollars on down the road.....happens to me all the time.

 

[Stingray606zp]

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

Made it point to get home in time to take a look at it today. Got a few pics too .

Pried the ''plug'' out with my knife. I believe it is an old repair. It was still fairly solid, but it came out in 2 pieces easily. I sanded the crapola off to make it easier to see. I have no idea how thick the boat is at that point, but the plug was about 1/4'' thick. It's not all the way through, so I guess that is one good sign? Pics,

Maybe that'll give ya a close idea where the repair is. More pictures in next post.

 

[Stingray606zp]

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

Here's part of the piece that came out.

Whats suggested at this point?

 

[ondarvr]

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

It looks like a crudely done repair, it's not uncommon for one to pop out when done poorly. Not hard to fix, gotta go though, YD may in to give instructions, or I'll be back later.

 

[Stingray606zp]

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

Looks like the weather is supposed to be nice this weekend. Mid 60s for the highs, i might tackle this project this weekend because it will probably be the warmest days we have for awhile!

 

[Yacht Dr.]

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

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 .

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

YD.

Looks to me like a blow hole in the bottom for some kind of through hull fitting .. Its just too perfectly round to be a damaged repair.

Probably some wing nut with a hole saw not paying attention to where the holes need to be in the production line .

Just grind away on the outside about 3"ish round and fiberglass that thing. ( you will probably have to pack it with some cabosil/mat mixture of putty before you glass it though.

Ive seen a lot of factory repairs let go due to shipping cost only .. they leave that repair up to the Warranty department of things .. Not too much but too much to NOT put it on the line due to ... um .. not done yet kinda thing ..

YD.

 

[Stingray606zp]

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

It is about perfectly round for sure. One more question as i know they're probably getting old. How deep do i need to grind it down before i start the repair process? Ok make it 2 lol, how hard is it going to be to fix with it upside down? Will the resin and mat try to droop down? How bout that fiberglass repair stuff thats already mixed, i dunno know the name right off but you just spear it on like body filler and let it dry. Like this stuff.

3M/1 qt. Bondo-Glass fiberglass reinforced filler (272) | Body Filler | AutoZone.com

That work the same, or would resin and mat be better?

 

[Woodonglass]

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

I wouldn't use Bondo especially below the waterline. You need laminating resin and some CSM and some cabosil. Order online or find a West Marine store near you. For grinding Grind starting 3" out from the hole and taper the grind towards the hole to a very thin edge. A dished out bowl effect. Mix some resin with cabosil and some small cut up fibers of the CSM to make a Hairy thick mixture and use a plastic putty knife to smooth it out. Leave it a bit low and not even with the rest of the hull. sand it fairly smooth. Cut 3 circles of CSM first one about the size of the original hole, next one 1" larger and the last one 1" larger than the last one. Mix up some resin and hardener and coat the area. then apply the smallest circle and wet it out with resin, then apply the next larger one , wet it out and finally apply the last circle and wet it out. In about an hour it will be dry enuf to sand smooth. Finally use some fairing material to smooth it all out and make it as smooth as possible to blend to the rest of the hull. If you decide to gelcoat it then that's a whole different kettle of fish the YD or ondarvr can help you with.

This is a pretty good video of the process...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz5WCfipaNw

 

[Stingray606zp]

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

Thanks for that video! I believe I can do that fairly easy!

 

[Yacht Dr.]

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

This is a pretty good video of the process...
Fiberglass Hull Repair - YouTube

Thank your for that Vid woody .. I needed a good laugh !! 5 hours for that repair ?? are you kidding LOL ! They used over 1,000 dollars worth of equipment to do a 4" repair .. Templates !! LOL .. for a few layers of CSM .. TEMPLATES !! .. oh man I cant stop. I had to bookmark that vid just to show others Why you spend soo much on glass repair.

Thanks for that video! I believe I can do that fairly easy!

Actually they Made that repair vid Just to show how hard enough that you should not do this at home kids kinda thing.

Most of us could have been done glassing a few layers of Mat and color matched by the time they had there stupid plastic templates made ( I really cant stop laughing about that . Really ). Then they mixed up 4 ozs' of bondo to spread on top of that. .. Then spray it with a $200 spray gun ?? What ? Its friggin gel coat.

Dont use that Vid for a source of good info. .. that Vid should be considered as a Marketing Ad and nothing more. They really dont show you crap that will help. In fact shows how not 'how its done'.

You dont need a whole lot of grinding on the outside .. just about 3-4" Round and enough bevel to give you ample depth to apply 3 layers of CSM. That thing is not going to bust open .. its a failed through hull repair and has nothing to due with structural integrity.

On the outside chance you can get to location from the inside .. yes it would be best if you could put a few layers of CSM on the inside as well.

I dont see it critical .. just piece of mind..

YD.

 

[Stingray606zp]

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

Hope to have this project done tomorrow...maybe minus paint or gel coat. I stopped on the way home from work to get some resin and mat. Mixed up a good wad of hairy mix and poked it through and in the hole. Gonna let that dry and then start on the layers tomorrow about midday so it'll be half way warm. I'll take some pictures.

BTW, would Bondo as a top finish layer be a good idea or not? I'm guessing it's easier to sand than the resin/mat mixture?

 

[jbcurt00]

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

I wouldn't use Bondo especially below the waterline. You need laminating resin and some CSM and some cabosil. Order online or find a West Marine store near you. For grinding Grind starting 3" out from the hole and taper the grind towards the hole to a very thin edge. A dished out bowl effect. Mix some resin with cabosil and some small cut up fibers of the CSM to make a Hairy thick mixture and use a plastic putty knife to smooth it out. Leave it a bit low and not even with the rest of the hull. sand it fairly smooth. Cut 3 circles of CSM first one about the size of the original hole, next one 1" larger and the last one 1" larger than the last one. Mix up some resin and hardener and coat the area. then apply the smallest circle and wet it out with resin, then apply the next larger one , wet it out and finally apply the last circle and wet it out. In about an hour it will be dry enuf to sand smooth. Finally use some fairing material to smooth it all out and make it as smooth as possible to blend to the rest of the hull. If you decide to gelcoat it then that's a whole different kettle of fish the YD or ondarvr can help you with.

I agree w/ WOG, Bondo would not be something I'd use for below the waterline

 

[Yacht Dr.]

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

I agree w/ WOG, Bondo would not be something I'd use for below the waterline

Bondo or skim coat products are perfectly fine for skimming pin holes in glass. You would inherently pop some holes in the fiberglass itself .. leaving pin point perosity in the substrate.

In cases of gel its no big deal ( you can skim spray with gel and then wipe with a spreader to fill the pin holes ).

If your doing a paint job .. your kinda bonded if you did not prep correctly. You must prime again.

But in your case I dont see that as a factor .. your using Gel.

YD.

 

[Stingray606zp]

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

Kinda blurry, but it's a cell phone shot...

About done.

I must add I'm glad you guys talked me into this route of repair. It may have took a bit longer than just throwing some epoxy in it, but I believe it will be permanent. I was playing with just the dried left over resign that was in the mixing cup, damn that stuff is strong!