sandtsandt
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2017
- Messages
- 9
I've got scrapes along the keel and a couple other areas of the hull where the gel-coat has been scraped away and I can see fiberglass fibers (see pix). I've sanded the areas down and a boat repair guy told me to just put a few coats of fiberglass resin from home depot over them. However, I've been reading and seen comments about bondo fiberglass resin (polyester? the stuff that says its for boats and pools) not being good for below the waterline, and that I should use epoxy instead. But then I read that you cant put gelcoat over epoxy, and that gelcoat will only go over a polyester resin (such as bondo fiberglass resin?). I've also seen posts talking about using some sort of putty to fill gouges in the gelcoat. The more that I read, the more confused Im getting... Reading more isnt really helping at this point. Most of the posts I run into are for more drastic damage than I've got; I just have a lot of small gouges down to the fiberglass, but no cracks or holes. and the gouges are just in spots, not a continuous scrape, such that they dont appear to reuire cloth or mat, just filler. I dont really care about the cosmetic appearance of the keel and this ridge, but I want everything to be structurally sound.
I know it's not optimal, but I need something that I can get done in an evening, and that will keep the hull structurally sound for a week in the water (24 hrs/day) houseboating at lake powell. I.e. lay a coat down, dry, sand if necessary, coat, repeat, etc. I dont have time to do a major project, and need to just get it seaworthy for this trip, though Im content to grind it all down later and do it with more detail after this week long trip. Canceling or renting a boat isnt an option at this point.Renting one will cost more than this entire boat is worth...
What can I use to fill over the gouges, epoxy or fiberglass resin or some kind of putty? Can anyone tell me a brand and product name for whichever it is? Something I can get at a marine supply/parts place or hardware store locally, and dont have to order and ship, if possible. Either way, do I need to put gelcoat over it? If so, what's a good product to use (Im not too worried about color matching). If gelcoat isnt needed and I only need one product on the hull, that's what I want, as long as Im not messing with the integrity of the hull...
Also, are the stress cracks on the transom in the picture I included an immediate problem?
Help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
I know it's not optimal, but I need something that I can get done in an evening, and that will keep the hull structurally sound for a week in the water (24 hrs/day) houseboating at lake powell. I.e. lay a coat down, dry, sand if necessary, coat, repeat, etc. I dont have time to do a major project, and need to just get it seaworthy for this trip, though Im content to grind it all down later and do it with more detail after this week long trip. Canceling or renting a boat isnt an option at this point.Renting one will cost more than this entire boat is worth...
What can I use to fill over the gouges, epoxy or fiberglass resin or some kind of putty? Can anyone tell me a brand and product name for whichever it is? Something I can get at a marine supply/parts place or hardware store locally, and dont have to order and ship, if possible. Either way, do I need to put gelcoat over it? If so, what's a good product to use (Im not too worried about color matching). If gelcoat isnt needed and I only need one product on the hull, that's what I want, as long as Im not messing with the integrity of the hull...
Also, are the stress cracks on the transom in the picture I included an immediate problem?
Help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
