Fiberglass Repair Newbie

[snagroms]

Just picked up a 83 Wellcraft Center Console. I've removed the CC and am preparing to fill some holes and patch some small cracks. I don't have much fiberglass experience but am mechanically enclined and handy. I've been looking for some type of marine based filler product and am confused by all of the choices. Based on the pictures below what would you suggest to use and how to best proceed. <br /><br />Top of console:<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Bottom of console:<br /> <br /><br /><br />Thanks,

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Fiberglass Repair Newbie

You need to repair the cracks with layers of glass behind the crack. Basically you need to widen the crack into a V shaped groove and then apply glass and resin behind the groove for structural rigidity and then fill in the groove with a little glass and top off with filler and sand smooth to the surface. You should probably put glass and resin patches behind all of the holes and then fill the holes with resin and filler.<br /><br />Remember the strength comes from the glass. The resin is just there to hold the glass still and keep out the water. If you have a crack and just cover it up without a reinforcement to fix the crack it will crack again. Boats flex alot when they hit the water. Think of your project as 2 parts. You have a cosmetic problem- holes and cracks which is easily fixed with filler. You have a structural problem- holes and cracks that must be reenforced with new glass.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Fiberglass Repair Newbie

I went out and bought a couple of really good tapes on fiberglass and gelcoat repair and they were worth their weight in gold. Nothing like seeing a pro in action. <br /><br />You can find a good list here http://bennettmarine.com/ and then shop around for the lowest price - you can often find them on eBay or half.com at a substantial discount.

 

[snagroms]

Re: Fiberglass Repair Newbie

Ralph and Jimd,<br /><br />So the glass provides structure and the rest is purely cosmetic. I think the video is a great idea, I remember seeing ship shape boating on DIY once and that made things a lot clearer. I'll get a video and then post back on specific products if needed.<br /><br />Can the small screw holes be filled with out glass backing?

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Fiberglass Repair Newbie

You have lot's of options. You can use cat's hair (like a thick putty with strands of glass mixed in), then you fair the top (like bondo) and then re-gelcoat. There are also putties like Marine-tex that would probably also do the trick. It really all depends on what you want. If you want to make the repair invisible the first method is what the pros in my tapes do but you also have to learn how to properly prep the areas (grinding out the area to be repaired, etc.)<br /><br />One tape I like which shows the techniques I used on my 79 Formula comes from "Gelcoat/Fiberglass, Vol 2" It is tape number H 906 distributed by Bennett Marine Video.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Fiberglass Repair Newbie

Let me just add, you learn tricks of the trade too which make the repairs easier. For example, when filling an area with something like cat's hair, if you wait till it fully cures to take it down you'll be there forever because it gets as hard as a rock. Instead, as it sets up you take a sureform (cheese grater) and take down high spots and smooth it out to get it ready for the fairing compound which is the final layer before gelcoat.<br /><br />You also learn how to properly repair stress cracks like I see in your pics. They show you how to properly prep those areas and repair them so they don't return.

 

[snagroms]

Re: Fiberglass Repair Newbie

Ralph,<br /><br />Good info. My goal is with the critter is to seal up the cracks and holes to keep as much extraneous salt water out of where it shouldn't easily get to, like electronics under the console. Also I want to keep the stress cracks from expanding and causing bigger problems. I do want a finished look but am not looking to do a like new restoration. The cats hair sounds like something I'm looking to use with maybe some simple glass reinforcing on the back in the really cracked areas and larger holes. The rest of the small holes should be easily fillable.<br /><br />You mentioned gel coat repairs. What about paint instead? Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Fiberglass Repair Newbie

You can do really large areas w/o any glass mat. You may need a temporary backer to hold the cat's hair in place but that's about it. Like I said, it gets as hard as a rock. I've filled areas as large as a foot square. I also filled some 2.5" holes in my dash (old gauge holes) w/o any backer at all - the stuff really spreads gaps w/o much difficulty. You'll see what I mean.<br /><br />Cat's hair is very thick and depending on how much catalyst you use, sets up very quickly (in minutes). So if you work in layers you can do large areas w/o much difficulty.<br /><br />I have one tape where a guy makes his own cat's hair (wets cloth w/poly and shreds it up) and fixes like a 8" hole in a transom. He then finishes off the hole with a layer of cloth as I recall.<br /><br />Basically, the cat's hair fills the large voids and the fairing compound (bond) makes it smooth and blends it in.<br /><br />Yes you can just paint over the repair with topside paint. You can also use plain old Rustoleum brand paint which boattest mag rated as pretty good in a marine environment.<br /><br />You can buy Bondo's brand of marine cat's hair at Home depot cheap. It's called Bondo-Glass/Vidriol. You can also buy bondo (for your fairing compound) there BUT you must paint or gelcoat over the bondo because it will absorb water. They make waterproof versions too. I think it's called Formula 77 or something.<br /><br />Buy the plastic spreaders too. They are the color the bondo should be when properly catalyzed and mixed.