The most horrifying hole in a fiberglass hull is quickly healed with a bit of glass fabric, a supply of resin, and. Do you have a boat that has been sitting idling over the course of the year. Maintenance tagged fiberglass repair bennett marine. Drilling engine epoxy ethanol faded fiberglass canoe fiberglass tape fill filling fixing floor flooring fuel tanks gas tank gel gelcoat get rid of glassing glue gouge grease holes houseboat how hp hull install installing itch keel labor ladder lay. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman. Feel free to call us for any work you may need done including fiberglass restoration, canvas repair, gelcoat repair, boat painting, all types of boat engine repair from outboards to jet boats, and so much more, and we will be very happy to work with you on a no obligation service quote. Fiberglass boat repair theres a hole in my boat part 1. Does it seem like you arent making full use of what was an expensive investment. Luckily, fiberglass hulls are easy to repair to betterthannew quality.
Heres how to keep your gel coat, canvas, upholstery, and brightwork in tiptop shape. According to a boat us magazine, jan, 2006 article, in 2004, 71% of boats changing hands were preowned, as compared to 63% in 1997. Repairing, restoring and prolonging the life of fiberglass boats with west system brand epoxy. You can patch boat holes in an afternoon and fiberglass a boat in. Construction, gel coat, stressing, blistering, repair, maintenance. Read these tips for maintenance and repair advice on everything from cleaning to repairing cracks. Covers fiberglass boat construction using cflex, airex, and other fiberglass types of construction. Use our plan ahead maintenance checklist as a tool to make sure all your needs are addressed. Youll save a ton of money if youre patient and use the proper tools. At grande harbor marina, you can enjoy the experience of many skilled. If you have a fiberglass boat, you know that while your fiberglass boat is indeed strong and durable, it isnt impenetrable.
Fiberglass is used to build boats for many reasons. Custom boat repairs diy gel coat repair fiberglass. Proper care and maintenance of the gelcoat will keep your boats luster and underlying fiberglass in good condition. Boat repair, boat maintenance, lake of the ozarks, mo. They offer their convenient fiberglass boat repair kits in three sizes.
This is part 1 of a 3 video series outlining how to repair structural damage to your fiberglass boat. Poor maintenance 14% grounding 5% manufacturing problem 3% good to see manufacturing problems down around 3% and of course these are boats built. Specializing in fiberglass, gel coat, osmosis blisters, boat repair. Boaters know that the best way to make permanent fiberglass, wood, and metal repairs is by using fiberglass boat repair products. These offer the ideal solution ideal for making simple repairs or even for fabricating missing parts or panels. More information and contacts introduction there are a lot of things to consider when starting a boat repair or maintenance project. Chief among these are its durability, but also its easy to repair. Whether it is boat fiberglass repair or boat gelcoat repair, we have the skills and experience required to have these tasks completed quickly and thoroughly for you. Port royale marina on lake lanier and park marina on lake allatoona are certified volvo dealers.
The fiberglass boat repair manual hardcover 16 jan 1988. All that it takes is a little knowhow and a little elbow grease. Wholesale marine recommends you get a set or two from west system. We are serious about caring for your boat and getting you back on the water. Also trouble shooting, tools required, resin types, how to lay up a hull, and much more. The same feature that helped launch the fiberglass boat industry in the 1960s may be hurting new boat sails now.
In this short video i take a minute to fix up an old bad repair. From metal and plastic repair, to sanding, paint finishing and boat cleanup, 3m has the. However, the repairability of fiberglass is one of its best characteristics. Tips and advice on maintaining your boat s hull including waxing, painting, aluminum hull care, gelcoat, varnish, teak cleaning, epoxies, and fiberglass repair. In 1990 henry decided to sell the company and retire. While a damaged wood boat requires expensive and intricate work, a fiberglass one can usually be repaired with just a few materials, even by people with only basic knowledge and skills. A step by step guide to doit yourself boat repair and the environment a publication of puget soundkeeper alliance. Once again, 879 release fabric was used to firmly squeegee the repair laminate in place, to compact the fibers, and to create a noprep surface for fairing. Download full pdf version food and agriculture organization of. We will cover everything from fiberglass basics and tools to putting a blindingly glossy finish on your work. If you are in need of fiberglass boat repairs in the little river, south carolina area, the only place to come is to us at grande harbor marina. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist.
In most cases we can be on the job the day you make your boat available. This manual provides repair and maintenance solutions to many of the problems that afflict fiberglass boats. In fiberglass boat repair the repair area may have hardness very similar to the original laminate and you can accidentally change the shape of the surrounding area. The vast majority of fiberglass boats in use today are built with polyester resin.
For over 30 years bennett marine has been the industry leader with the largest catalog of boating, fishing, sailing, navigation and travel videos for wholesale and consumer purchase. The fiberglass boat repair manual 1st edition by allan vaitses. Are there hairline cracks in your boats deck or topsides gelcoat. The gelcoat of your fiberglass is the key to giving it that new boat sheen. To do a better job of protecting and restoring your gelcoat. Painting supplies free delivery possible on eligible purchases.
Includes illustrated procedures for structural reinforcement, deck and hull. The next two chapters focus on how to repair a damaged boat so that it is sound and as close to the original in strength and stiffness as possible. It is good condition but needed some typical repairs to make it like new. A complete guide to fibreglass boat repair with west system epoxy. Unfortunately, too many boat owners let this slip by the wayside while they focus on other aspects of boat maintenance. Sign up for emails and stay uptodate on the latest news, events, and promotions. West system fiberglass boat repair and maintenance book. Some of the boat repair and maintenance services we offer.
One of the best qualities of a fiberglass boat is how easy it is to repair. I wanted to make some modifications as well while i am at it. The finished, glossy look of new boats is unmistakable. Fiberglass boat repairs, little river, sc grande harbour.
The goal of regular maintenance is to keep the vessel in a state of good repair and help it last as long as possible. Fiberglass repair kits are great to have on hand when you need to fill gouges, chips, scrapes and deep scratches on fiberglass and soft surfaces. For this reason, fiberglass repairs rely upon the adhesive quality of their resin. Gelcoat maintenance and repair tips crownline boats. How to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat the new. Even the best boat captain has had a docking turn into a scuffandchip event. Fiberglass boat repair for the diyer, everything you need. For your bigger repair needs, we have a boat repair shop where we can get your boat back to its prime condition, ready to take on another season. Ever wanted to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat. Cracked or shattered fiberglass backside repair pdf, 179. A repair pro shows you how to make invisible fixes for scuffs, dents and scratches in fiberglass boats and other fiberglass items.
Our epoxy instruction manuals explain nearly anything you need to know about using west system epoxy, whether youre repairing a fiberglass boat, restoring a wooden boat, dealing with a case of gelcoat blisters, fairing and preparing a surface for its final finish, doing repairs around the house, trying out vacuum bagging as a clamping method, or. Training manual on the construction of frp beach landing boats. Did you know that many boats are sidelined for some very common reasons. Plan on using a variety of sanding tools if you are dealing with a repair that bridges both a flat area and a detailed area such as a chine or gunwale.
A complete guide to repair fiberglass boats with west system epoxy. Composite boat damage assessment eric greene associates. Damage assessment for fiberglass boats involves knowing what to look for and how to. Online articles by david pascoe, marine surveyor on boats and yachts maintenance, repairs and troubleshooting. This is my first attempt at repairing and painting a fiberglass boat. More about fiberglass boat repair if you have larger repair issues or problems with your fiberglass boat not covered by the size or scopeofthiskit,westsystem hasasolutionfor you. Many boat owners look for the quick fix solutiona simple. Maintenance records how easy to access and service oil drip pan oil condition type of watercooling raw, heat. If you want to keep your boat looking like new, nothing is more important than keeping up with basic boat maintenance. Our factory trained and certified boat mechanics throughout our 5 full service locations to accommodate all your boat repair and routine boat maintenance needs. We work hand in hand with our customers throughout the repair process keeping you updated so there are not any overlooked issues or surprise costs. I really enjoyed the brief description of how fiberglass boats are built. Henrys two sons, scott and andy continued on with a boat repair business offering expert repairs, leaning postsbaitwells and some other custom products. A step by step guide to doit yourself boat repair and the.
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