A step by step how to

[marauder11]

Is there a post on here that walk you through the process of fiberglassing. I see lots with actual boat projects happening that talks about glassing. I am looking for a intructional post more than a project post.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: A step by step how to

Uhmmm, I'm not sure I understand. The Pics, Videos, and Text that are Extremely detailed and descriptive here on the Largest Boat Repair Forum in the world aren't good enuf and you need a more detailed instructional post. What is it EXACTLY you are looking for????

 

[marauder11]

Re: A step by step how to

sorry i guess i am looking for those post if anyone knows of those of hand

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: A step by step how to

What specific fiberglassing tasks for your boat are you wanting to learn about. Hull Repairs, Deck Repairs, Transom Repairs, Stringer Repairs?? They are all Highly covered here on the forum and a search will yield a plethara of results.

 

[marauder11]

Re: A step by step how to

So if i want to reinforce a fiberglassed area how would i go about doing this. i have access to the inside. Also i want to repair some gel coat chips and cracks. I want to know what expoxy is best used for this. I do not care about looks. Also for the below thebwater line chips and gouges whats best for this.

Thanks

 

[ondarvr]

Re: A step by step how to

I think this thread briefly discusses fiberglass.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=234392

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: A step by step how to

Pics always help us to give you a definitive answer. Small chips and gouges can usually be handles with Gelcoat paste or a product called Marine Tex if you aren't particular about color matching. Larger gouges will need some reinforced thickened resin and possibly some layers of mat and or Cloth. Epoxy can be used but most of us stick with Polyester resin. If the damage goes to the glass or thru it then as you say, an inside out lamination repair is required where sanding and feathering around the damaged area is done and then progressivly smaller to larger patches of CSM (Chopped Strand Mat) and 1708 Biaxial Cloth are layed onto the sanded area to build it back up to it's orignial thickness. The same process is followe on the outside of the hull to finish the repair. Gelcoat can then be applied to cover the patch. Gel coat cannot be applied over epoxy that's one of the main reasons we use Poly. Post some pics and we can walk you thru the process.

 

[oops!]

Re: A step by step how to

lol.......click the link ondarvr gave you.........

within the first 16 pages.......it has all you need.

that is the most comprehensive fibreglass discussion on the site.....it covers everything.

frisco boater has some vids.....combine the two and you have all you need to start a business !

or....just click the link in my sig

cheers
oops.


btw.....when you are actually doing the job.....start a thread......and take pics....

show your work and we can and will guide you step by step.
this forum will save you thousands !

 

[marauder11]

Re: A step by step how to

Good because my boat only cost me 2k. LOL I will post pics tomorrow of the 3 spots i want to tackle. Mostly gel coat issues i think All above the water line.

 

[marauder11]

Ok the picture of the all white is a chip in the gel coat about 3/16 of an inch wide. Solid inside of the chip. The other two are above the rub rail and same story just the gel coat from what I see. I can get behind both the yellow ones and there is solid fiberglas. I have been told by local boat shop that epoxy is good to repair these. What do you guys think. I am not worried about looks as I am about the repair being good.

 

[oops!]

Re: A step by step how to

i would not use epoxy on gellcoat......i would use gellcoat !

the only problem with those repairs (they are really simple standard gellcoat repairs) is the color of the yellow. it will be hard to match exactly

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: A step by step how to

Yep, all simple Gelcoat paste repairs. Get your hands on a gelcoat repair kit. Start learning/testing mixing the colors to the best match you can get, get a dremel tool to grind out the gouges, wipe em down with Acetone, fill with the paste, sand and fair, polish and consider it done.

 

[marauder11]

Re: A step by step how to

Ok cool sounds good. Do all these gel coat repair kits need to be covered with a wax paper or something to let them cure

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: A step by step how to

I agree with the above postings ..

You do not need a step how to guide for "fiberglassing" ... its gel repairs ( voids and dings ).

What you really need is one of 2 things here.

1. fill the dings/voids with filler ( cheap and easy way is marine tex ) and let it be ..

2. learn how to color match with pastels .. Very hard to do with gel repairs of that color.

You would need a neutral gel and colors to work with that color .. You WILL NOT get that color mixing pigments with White gelcoat and expect any kind of color match whatsoever ..

What is your expected results to cost ratio .. you can if you want get that color dialed in ( gonna cost you alot of time and money blowing 4 oz at a time on gelcoat mixing ).

Take the color to a pro for the color match on 16 oz of gel match... worth it IMO ..

YD.

 

[marauder11]

Re: A step by step how to

Actually played ball with the local fiberglass guy. He looked at it and said it could take between 4-8 hours of matching to get an exact maqtch ( $85 an hour). I said i am not too picky i bought a yellow boat. This marine tex you talk about is it a gel coat or an epoxy. My first thought was use one of those putty epoxy sticks and sand it smooth( now realizing not a good choice) Paint over it. Not a pretty fix, but not as important as a good fix. I have to order the gel coat repair kit because no one here carries such an animal. I have access to a few different epoxies. One is a 3 m kit from Canadain tire. The other i believe is Marine Tex.

Thanks all for your help.

 

[oops!]

Re: A step by step how to

the white isnt going to be too much of a problem.....

however the yellow is....

as YD stated....you arent going to get the yellow out of a kit. the kit colors are usually (in yellow) a variation of orange....and if you start with a white base it will allways pale on you when you try to get the depth of the color.


i did a yellow boat.....it took me over 400 matches to get the yellow....and i was still off a tad.

the white,,,,(if you really know what color is in the white.....usually a tan or grey ) is relativity easy to hit....

that looks like a glastron boat.......is it?....they are still in business and they will be able to reproduce the color of the yellow gell (or close to it because of natural fading).

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: A step by step how to

If your not picky .. then do it in Mtex ..

Fill and sand/buff. Done ..

You can do this same thing with gel and cabosil but your basically gonna do your scratches the same way ( grind/fill/fair/sand/buff )

You can leave out the buffing part if you desire .. that will not hurt anything aside from your pride.

YD.

 

[marauder11]

Re: A step by step how to

OOPS your a man with no fear. i read your boat extention project for like 3 hours last night. It is a Larson 1974 shark. I am thinking maybe use the marine tex just because i know there is no way i will get the color right. But on that hand does it really matter if they are small spots the biggest spot is like 3/8 of an inch long the rest the ball of a pen barley fits in them. I just want to be pro active on the repair than find out a couple years down the road i could have saved some time and money if i just would have put a little in to it now.

 

[oops!]

Re: A step by step how to

tho marine tex is a good repair....and an great alternative for gellcoat repairs....it in not one of my personal faveroutes...

remember....this is just a personal opinion.....there for take it that way.

marine tex is an epoxy based product.....once you start dont that road...there is no turning back.....its epoxy and paint for the rest of your life...lol
so when you go to paint the repair area....you still wont hit the color perfect....

so if you are going to miss the match any how......why not do it with gell? if a person learns to do gell.....they will not go to any other filler because it is such a fantastic product.

even a paled yellow gell repair the size of a quarter will be hidden in the boat,s main color.. as mentioned earlier....the white is not much of a problem. you will be a shade off...mut only you will know.

but bud....this is your boat.....you can fix it whatever way you want.........thumbs up for getting on the repair as soon as possible......the boat being a larson is kinda prone to weaker gells

 

[marauder11]

Re: A step by step how to

Thanks . i got a long winter ahead .so i am going to mull this over for a week or so. No use rushing in on it.