Help with repairing a hole in fiberglass hull

[mslajoieat99]

Recently noticed hole in the "V" of the hull near the front of the boat where it rests on the trailer's front roller. It has weakened it and now a hole about the size of your pointer finger is present. How do I fix this? What supplies will I need and do i need to patch both sides of the hole. If so I will have to take the floor out to get to the inside. What tips/suggestions can you people give me?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Help with repairing a hole in fiberglass hull

I would start by tapping the surrounding area with a hammer to see if you can hear the extent of the weak point.You will surely need to get to the inside so up comes the floor.Charlie

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Help with repairing a hole in fiberglass hull

You don't have to rip up the floor to repair it. You do have to grind the skeevy old exposed fibers away. You will want to grind until you see clean fibers in resin. How you repair it depends on if you are concerned about appearance or not. I had a gash on my hull that I repaired by grinding until clean fibers, then dishing out to about 2 inches out all the way around. I mixed epoxy to the consistency of peanut butter and filled the gash, and then layed in epoxy saturated cloth from small pieces increasing each piece size to fill in the dished area. The end result was flat and even with the rest of the hull. I did not care about cosmetics, so I left it at that. If cosmetics are a concern then you have to fair the repair with a marine specific filler, etc. Another option is to do the repair and then install a keel guard. It will conceal the repair and protect the area from further damage. Good luck...

 

[crab bait]

Re: Help with repairing a hole in fiberglass hull

i'd take a piece of wood.. an plug the hole.. just make sure it's long enuff to reach/touch/butt against the floorin'.. <br /><br />let this wood be long.. epoxy up good, all sides as per encapsulate.. an stick up in the hole all the way until contact with floor .. have about 2 inches to long an duct tape in place so epoxy hardens..<br /><br />next ,, saw/grind/sand wood to hull..<br /><br />fill any gap/imperfection with thicken epoxy or marine tex..<br /><br />then sand smooth an lay up acouple layers of 7 oz cloth.. doctor up an paint..<br /><br />the wood plug acts as a soild marker in the hull space..