Sealing damaged fiberglass

[Bandersnatch]

I bought an older ranger that needs some work. How can I seal these exposed bits of fiberglass to ensure no water intrusion? 

[MN Fisher]

If the area is small and shallow, just some resin to coat.

Larger/deeper areas will probably need cloth in addition to the resin...lightly sand the paint off to 1" beyond the damaged area and cloth/resin at least 1/2" beyond the damaged area.

 

In both cases, wait for it to completely set up (dry) then light sanding to smooth and re-paint.

[Smalliefan2]

I used angel hair resin filler for larger spots. Sanded smooth, and mixed gel-coat patch, put over the glassed in area. Sanded. The kit is around $70. now, and you can color match to your hull. 

[WRB]

You better repair your trailer bunks first!

Tom

 

[Dirtyeggroll]

For those areas on the keel, you can get away with fiberglass bondo and then putting on a keel guard over it.

[TnRiver46]

I’ve never repaired fiberglass personally but it seems like the cloth/resin/sand/ paint program would fix that. I’ve coated wooden transoms with the resin and even outdoors that stuff smells pretty strong 

[GaryH]

Marine Tex gray. Easy to use and is stronger than the original fiberglass. You can sand and paint over or sand and cover with your keel guard.

[WRB]

Looks to me like chine damage not keel.

Whatever it’s more then chips in the gel coat, it’s through the fiberglass and moisture must be dried before any repair can start.

The boat should be flipped over to repair the bottom surfaces.

Tom

[Jigfishn10]

 

Sorry, I had to...?

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

 

Sorry, I had to...?

Hahahahah!!!! My boss bought some of that to fix a leaky water hose. You can guess the result. I fixed it with a $2 hose mender from wal mart, he says “I spent like $20 on that roll of tape!”........... here’s your sign 

[jbsoonerfan]

You can fix it yourself pretty easily. I made a stupid move when I first got my boat and tried to install a new rod organizer in my rod box and used screws that were too long. I just watched a couple videos on youtube, ordered the stuff and went to work. I had ZERO experience with fiberglass, gel-coat, etc. You can't hardly tell where it was. It takes a lot of time and coats to do it right though.

 

Here's a before and after.

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

3 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

 

Sorry, I had to...?

I swear, that's the very boat I've been looking at! And here I thought it was a racing stripe.

[Bandersnatch]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

Looks to me like chine damage not keel.

Whatever it’s more then chips in the gel coat, it’s through the fiberglass and moisture must be dried before any repair can start.

The boat should be flipped over to repair the bottom surfaces.

Tom

I don't think I'll be flipping this boat over anytime soon. It can't be repaired any other way?

[TnRiver46]

12 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

I don't think I'll be flipping this boat over anytime soon. It can't be repaired any other way?

It’s just 1,000 times easier to work on flipped over. All the goo wants to fall out when you work from below it, but I’m sure it can still be done. 

[Bandersnatch]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

It’s just 1,000 times easier to work on flipped over. All the goo wants to fall out when you work from below it, but I’m sure it can still be done 

Doesn't have to be pretty, I just want it water sealed to prevent intrusion or damage to the boat 

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Doesn't have to be pretty, I just want it water sealed to prevent intrusion or damage to the boat 

I’ve got aluminum boats so I wouldn’t know for sure but I don’t think aesthetics will be your issue. It would be easier to paint your ceiling if it was laying on the ground is kind of what I’m saying haha. When you apply liquid resin to something above you, gravity will want to pull it down. But it appears a few people that posted above fixed theirs from below so I would assume it’s possible. The absolute proper way to fix would be by flipping it over but I sure don’t have that capability. You could also hire the work done, there are some extremely skilled glass guys in my area 

[Jigfishn10]

12 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Doesn't have to be pretty, I just want it water sealed to prevent intrusion or damage to the boat 

Take blue painters tape and tape around each scar within an 1/8” from the scar itself. 

 

If your just looking for a seal just use a 2 part epoxy and apply with a throw away brush or a tongue depressor. 

 

After you apply and the epoxy has taken a set where it’s not runny pull the tape off and you’ll have a neat patch.