Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

Wipe down generously with styrene to help create a chemical link...acetone and MEK don't.

There is NO more chemical link using Styrene then using soap and water .. Fiberglass repair and acetone is what you need to use.

Geshy .. and this is from a poster that is worried about using Food Grade Cabosil ?? ..

Bill .. Styrene is NOT something that you want to mess around with or recommend .. especially 'Generously' just willy nilly..

Im gonna get edited again for this post Im sure of that !

YD.

 

[BillP]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

There is NO more chemical link using Styrene then using soap and water .. Fiberglass repair and acetone is what you need to use.

Geshy .. and this is from a poster that is worried about using Food Grade Cabosil ?? ..

Bill .. Styrene is NOT something that you want to mess around with or recommend .. especially 'Generously' just willy nilly..

Im gonna get edited again for this post Im sure of that !

YD.

I see a trend worthly of banning for sure...you want to censor posts or discredit and slam posters if they don't agree with you.

Funny how you are twisting it, you had no clue that a safer non hazardous cabosil existed and slamming me because I use it.
Now it's styrene...you are not aware of the increased bond strength with styrene compared to mek or acetone. Go do some testing. Take pieces of cured laminated glass, grind them smooth, wipe down generously with stryene and use plain resin to glue them together. Do the same with another batch but wipe with acetone or mek. Do a distructive test to see which glue lines are stronger. Answer is styrene by a large margin. Anyone who does tests like this will quickly learn for themselves my comments are factual and your comments are a figment of the imagination. To bad newbies to glassing don't know who is right without empiracle testing for themselves. At least they can do it and make their own mind up.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

I think the both of you should battle this out in PM's and not foul up the thread....... :facepalm: What are you guys 12 years old???? Grow up!

 

[BillP]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

I think the both of you should battle this out in PM's and not foul up the thread....... :facepalm: What are you guys 12 years old???? Grow up!

Do you expect me not to comment in public when someone trashes me and my posts in public? I didn't start it.
bp

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

Ok, back on topic, where's the pics??

 

[rickryder]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

Do you expect me not to comment in public when someone trashes me and my posts in public? I didn't start it.
bp

I would expect people to act like adults..... he started it...... sounds like my kids fighting..... If you have someone bashing you Ya know rule #4.... get in touch with a Mod and let them handle it....

OK enough now back on topic like Chriscraft said!


Gearhead I apologize for the hijack of your thread :facepalm:
please show some pics of where your at on your repair so far.

 

[oops!]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

just to let every one know......the team is watching.

if a poster is being openly bashed....(not just disagreed with) report the post.

it is ok to disagree, and better to back up your info with data, not just claims. then the op can decide for them selves. (as was done and stated)

the mods, see just about every post here at iboats, some slip by, most dont. and we keep track.

your help in reporting posts that VIOLATE THE RULES is invaluable guys...they help the ones that slip by.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

I thought that the repair issue was solved ??

Its a temp fix from the outside..or its a temp fix backer from the outside in ..

The members in the thread that have described how to Temp this repair 'best as possible'. We All understand that if you can not get to the inside and Fix it Correctly .. then these suggestions are NOT Permanent/correctly Repaired ! But are a temp fix .. that is what the OP wanted ..

Anything from a 'mushroom inside backing' to a 'solid slip backing' ..or a just 'pile it up' has been suggested and almost given a step by step guide on how the repair can be Semi-Safe ( or safe enough that the suggestions made are followed STEP by STEP ) .. but certainly Not Correctly ..

OP . .. you have been given the correct advise in this thread ..

YD.

 

[Gearhead62]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

Project temporarily delayed. Hoping to get back at it this weekend - will post progress

 

[BillP]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

Project temporarily delayed. Hoping to get back at it this weekend - will post progress

Gearhead62,
Evidently another poster took liberty to incorrectly speak for me saying "we all understand" it isn't correct unless being glassed from the inside. I most certainly do NOT agree with that statement. Let me be clear. Glassing inside or outside...the fiberglass doesn't know the difference. Don't get hung up on one being structually sounder than the other. Either way will live as long as the hull does. The only difference is cosmetics. Inside patches are easier to hide and make pretty, but outside patching can be done with perfect cosmetics too. It just takes more work to get there.

bp

 

[Gearhead62]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

BP
Understood - Thanks for clarity

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

I know that most will logically state you have to hit it from inside, removing deck, and then the outside, etc... and I agree with that - maybe next year. But I'm looking for a hack / workable method that allows a decent patch to be applied, fully aware that life expectancy will be lower than pro method.

Without doing an Inside/Outside glass repair for a hole in your boat .. you have been given the Best advice for your situation. It seemed that you understood this issue in your OP .. some of the best have given you repair methods for your situation.

It was understood at the beginning of the thread that you understand the 'proper way' and was not holding anyone accountable for how to do a 'workable way' safely ( or at least safe enough to post ).

Good luck and hope you keep us posted with pics and info.

YD.

 

[Gearhead62]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

Back on topic....Distractions brought on by wife

To me, its all great advice from differing perspectives, seasoned pros. I appreciate it all and take on full responsibility - that's the value of the threads and site for a glass repair novice (me). Anyway, weather turned but I did get some more prep done and a couple pix. Still focused on hitting this from outside only, due to time constraints.

As shown, I opened the hole longer (16" - exposing the solid wood stringer) and sanded back on the sides. I will sand wider exposing more original glass for eventual layup. Note - Those stray sanded areas were done to remove the PO's original patch resin slopped on from underneath - will be covered / coated in final step

Also, removed the rot wood section (~6"), dried it, sanded up under the glass for adhesion and am now contemplating the backing plate for the void. I have all materials - except no cabosil to be had nearby and i gotta get this boat completed...now for Questions:

1) Does the backing have to be any specific material?
2) Can I slide in some flat scuffed PVC as backer, using epoxy instead of pb? Assume it would be sanded down and prepped to start layup.
3) Wood stringer exposed - Use epoxy or ??

Thanks again,
Novice (Gearhead)

 

[oops!]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

now that you have it opened up....thanks for the pix by the way/

you will never get a backing plate in there.....the stringer is in the way.

i would just fill the gash with structural peanut butter....then glass over it.

yes, you can use epoxy......however, once you use it..poly will not bond to it....this limits your choices later on.

 

[Gearhead62]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

I have a pvc backing plate cut for the location of the wood void (6"), hence my epoxy question, and though its not ideal, but I can get it in, move it back to center, and it is about 1/2" behind glass on both sides - again only where wood rot is removed....Good enuf? bypass this?

Also, no cabosil - any common substitutes on recipe for pb?

If I go epoxy, can't I sand it down to make it ready for poly layup? Bad idea?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

Poly will not adhere to epoxy with a good bond, regardless if you sand it, acetone it, or whatever. The two just don't play well together. I think there is some confusion here. How much space is there between solid wood and the bottom side of the fiberglass hull? In other words, If I stuck my finger in the crack how deep would it go before I hit something and for what kind of an area. If it's only about 1/2" deep then I agree with OOP's Fill it and then glass it. I'll prolly get scolded for this but...Bondo makes what they call a Marine filler that's kinda like Hairy Peanut Butter(Bondo Hair) that you could get locally for sure to fill the void. It is poly based and then you could lay the resin and glass over it once it's sanded and shaped.



What kind of resin and glass are you using and where are you planning on getting it?

 

[Gearhead62]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

Depth of rotted stringer void is only a 1/2 inch max deep x 1/2" wide x 6" long....until you hit dried wood (stringer)...void is concave as you can see it tapers back up to good wood on surface, like a crescent

I have some of that bondo-hair available - same can as you attached...A compound like that would sure make things easy, and I'd like to use it, but have held off due to the concerns expressed. I'll try it if I hear it has a decent chance done right, seal it up, etc.... If it fails, I knock it out and start over?

 

[Gearhead62]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

Resin / glass are from local marina - don't have labels in front of me

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

IMHO, it will be ok since you will be laying several layers of good glass and resin over the top of it. 1/2" deep is not that big a deal sooo.. for me I'd say go for it. I'll for sure last the years you want to keep the boat in service.

 

[Gearhead62]

Re: Gash in Fiberglass Keel - Quick Repair Option

OK.......I'll give it a shot.....Will post results / more pix