Lady renovating boat please help

[Grub54891]

Fresh water rots things pretty quickly if the boat is not covered/stored properly. Lots of 5-10 year boats out there that are toasted. I hear salt water "pickles "the wood so it won't rot. But it's just hearsay to me as I've never seen an old salty myself. Now if the boat is in the bottom of our lake, it stay's pretty intact for quite a few years, as the water is cold, and fresh. Lake Superior.

 

[boaterlady]

I read just now that 410 stuff, before painting you need to put plain resin over it as well or it can get hot in the sun and pop a bubble in your paint.

 

[redneck joe]

Look at marine tex for filling gouges

 

[DeepBlue2010]

I am not sure where you read that or what the person who wrote it did to get this experience. I used this mix with no issues, that I made aware of at least.

Like I said, on my boat, I wouldn't use thickened epoxy as a filler. 3M and Evercoat both make good quality polyester based marine fillers and that is what I would use.

Save the epoxy for a good use latter on. Or for now, just return it and buy it if you need it.

 

[boaterlady]

No Title

This stuff? And do I need the 410? And to be clear, can this fix the gouges in the fiberglass too, I mean there's chunks missing from it, thanks. There's so much different info out there, I do read a lot but when people go back and forth I am not sure who is right and need this clarification. Thanks.

 

[redneck joe]

Chunks in fiberglass? How large and deep.

 

[DeepBlue2010]

A damaged fiberglass need to be repaired properly not with fillers. Depends on how deep it is and the status of it, you might need to grind and rebuild up with glass. Post close ups of the areas in question. This is something we have to see very clearly to give the best recommendation of how to deal with it.

But in general, fillers are to hide minor imperfections and to fair the surface, not to substitute for missing or damaged layers of fiberglass.

 

[mjf55]

Boaterlady,. When I was restoring my 30' Hunter sailboat, I used these guides to help me with the different repairs. Follow the link for other very useful information. While West System produced these documents and tell you to use it, polyester can be used.

As previously stated, you need to make proper repairs, fairing, and finishing. You sanded off a lot of gelcoat, so for below the waterline, you need to consider a barrier coat ( esp if you are considering leaving it in the water for awhile.
Since the gelcoat is sanded thru above the waterline, In would suggest painting using tip and roll technique. But you have time to ponder that as you are just starting in this journey.

 

[boaterlady]

Thanks all for the help. I put everything on hold as it was an ambitious project for sure. We actually ended up with an even less expensive boat that's sail ready. For $500! I'll have questions on different threads I'm sure so more help gently appreciated. She is a 25 foot macgregor, I think 1982? To us she's beautiful. We spent some time on her in the dock already. Have yet to sail but that's coming, so excited!!!!!