Quick question on small hole on hull fix

[Stingray190rs87]

Hey fellas, I just recently purchased a 2000 Stingray 190rs 4.3 efi Mercruiser. I'm not new to the boating world but I'm no expert either. I just got the boat up to the marina on lake norman and had the fork lift take it right off the trailer and into the water. We got about 200 yards from the dock and I noticed a small leak. Turns out one of the two previous owners decided to drill a screw on the port side of the boat midway just underneath the passenger console, I had taken it out two times before this and there was no leak. I think its when the fork lift picked up the boat it popped out the screw.
The hole is below the waterline so I filled it with 3M 5200 this past sunday. Says the cure time is 7 days (seems a bit long) but I went back up to the marina today to check on it and it was still a bit tacky feeling after 48 hours. My question is I need to know if applying Evercoats Gel coat repair over the top of the 5200 once its dried will be enough to fix the hole. its only about an 1/8 of an inch wide but it does go straight through. Any ideas or suggestions would be great. Thanks

 

[series60]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

Hey fellas, I just recently purchased a 2000 Stingray 190rs 4.3 efi Mercruiser. I'm not new to the boating world but I'm no expert either. I just got the boat up to the marina on lake norman and had the fork lift take it right off the trailer and into the water. We got about 200 yards from the dock and I noticed a small leak. Turns out one of the two previous owners decided to drill a screw on the port side of the boat midway just underneath the passenger console, I had taken it out two times before this and there was no leak. I think its when the fork lift picked up the boat it popped out the screw.
The hole is below the waterline so I filled it with 3M 5200 this past sunday. Says the cure time is 7 days (seems a bit long) but I went back up to the marina today to check on it and it was still a bit tacky feeling after 48 hours. My question is I need to know if applying Evercoats Gel coat repair over the top of the 5200 once its dried will be enough to fix the hole. its only about an 1/8 of an inch wide but it does go straight through. Any ideas or suggestions would be great. Thanks

I never liked mixing different types of repair materials for just the reason you asked the question. Basically, will everything stick together? Maybe. Personally I would prefer to use like materials for the repair. Sand and prep the inside of the hull, use a little epoxy resin and a small piece of glass cloth on the inside. Place some painters tape on the outside of the hole so the epoxy won't run out. Let set for 24 hrs and then you know the gelcoat will stick. JMHO.

 

[BrianCinAz]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

An 1/8 wide hole is not going to require glass cloth to repair. I have repaired those holes with fiberglass reinforced body filler from the auto parts store. It cures in a few hours, then you can gel coat right over it.
3M 5200 is not designed for the repair that you are attempting. 5200 remains flexible, gel coat needs a solid sub surface.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

Gel coat does not stick to 5200, nor does it stick well to epoxy, and you don't want to use body filler on the boat.

For short term the 5200 is fine, and it does take time to cure.

Longer term look for something more permanent, what you use depends on how you want it to look.

Epoxy can be made to sort of match, but it may not be great, gel coat can be made to match fairly well, but may cost more money for a custom match. If you can get to the inside...great...if not, no big deal.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

My guess is that you did not use the correct mix for the 5200. It should cure in hours and be as hard as steel. It is not flexible when cured and will even cure under water. It is ideal to use by itself for the damage you describe and does not need anything under or over. Great stuff but expensive. It comes in white and grey.

 

[salty87]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

small hole in a hard to see location..marinetex and forget about it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

My guess is that you did not use the correct mix for the 5200. It should cure in hours and be as hard as steel. It is not flexible when cured and will even cure under water. It is ideal to use by itself for the damage you describe and does not need anything under or over. Great stuff but expensive. It comes in white and grey.

I'm pretty sure you are thinking about something else, other than 5200. 3M 5200 is an adhesive sealer, stays flexable, takes a week to fully cure, and will sag and is one part comes in a tube for caulking guns and smaller tubes and several colors.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

3M 4000 is a fast cure version - I find it does everything 5200 does, but dries in an hour or two.

However, I would use Marine Tex on a hole in the hull below waterline.

 

[Stingray190rs87]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

Thanks For all the suggestions guys. Since I already filled the hole the day it happened with 5200 I called West Marine today and they advise me to just sand down the area to make the surface adhear better. wipe it with acetone and then apply the gelcoat fixer after the 5200 cures. I know it's not the best way but I'm thinking it should hold at least for the season and ill look at it again to add to my growing list of things to fix during the winter. Ill post some pics soon to show you guys.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

If you plan to use 5200 don't bother with anything over it, it may sort of stick but it's kind of a waste of time and money. If your hull is white then use white 5200 and you're done.

If you do plan to use something over it then don't use 5200, just use Marine Tex, it will take all the same steps as covering it with gel coat, but you will be done with it...forever.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Quick question on small hole on hull fix

Amen to the Marine Tex. for a 1/8" screw hole, that's all I'd do. and it would be, as ondarvr says... fixed forever.