What Are The Enemies Of Fiberglass Laminate Repair?
June 13, 2009 by Chris Wethered
Filed under Fiberglass Boat Repair And Sailboat Painting, Questions Visitors Are Asking And Answers
Decks have components drilled in to them.Water gets in under cleats, stanchions. Seals are undermined each time someone swings themselves on to the boat from the pontoon, the list goes on.
Stressed resin
An example is the cockpit. Because the gelcoat and laminate coats are put through stress over time these spots develop. Sheets of laminate need to applied to those cracked areas to stiffen the weakened laminate. Get some fiberglass strands to work ASAP!
Looking out for impact
Impact cracks occur if anchors or sharp, heavy items are dropped on deck. The size of the damage is dependent on the impact and time before fixing. Stanchions are used to aid boat access, this leverage lifts the stanchion bedding from it's mounting. Steel or brass backing plates, secured with bolts offer a dependable fix.
Repair the cracks as follows:
- If applicable remove the hardware to get at the problem
- Remember that normally only the outer gelcoat layer is damaged
- If this is the case then use gelcoat paste to fill the gaps
- Then sand down the area and bring out the finish
- Should the laminates be damaged beneath the gelcoat then more extensive action needs to be taken
Strategic approach and well thought out
Angles and corners; voids
Angles and corners can be weak from the manufacture process. Deck repair will solve these inconsistencies. The nature of the laminates, does not facilitate them following the specifications of the mold. In other words the laminate does not always do what the mold dictates.
The result is a weak point called a void
When these appear, particularly around corners,
it is simple to fix:
- Remove weakened covering
- clean area with Acetone and then use Styrene as a primer
- Fill the void using laminate resin and once cured - layer the gel coat on
- Sand and buff to blend with the rest of the deck
Lower your bills
Vigilance whilst on board will lower your deck repair Once the surface gelcoat is broken then moisture and damp sets in, making the problem greater.
Spotting those imperfections in the fiberglass is simple. Look at where surfaces join on a regular basis.
It's imperative to identify areas were treatment is required - quickly! Cracks appear were flexing occurs, in tight bends or corners.
Take advantage! West Marine are offering a 10% discount, when you spend over $100!
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Fiberglass Repair
June 13, 2009 by Chris Wethered
Filed under Fiberglass Boat Repair And Sailboat Painting
Fiberglass hulls are very tough. Their strength comes from the chemically bonded laminates that accumulate around the boat mold. The gelcoat we see is the surface of a 'new' look sailboat. It takes its shine from the mold in which it was made.
Working On The Inside To Fix The Outside
The important aspect of hull repairs, is to work from the inside to repair the outside. This way you are emulating the production process of the boat. Benefits include minimizing gelcoat repair and finish, but also the amount of work overall. This is due to the curve of the hull.
Understand The Fix Materials
Boat hull repair is straight forward. Apprehension comes from not understanding the material used. Meet laminates!
If laminate was your buddy, your buddy would be:
- Easy going – means easy to apply
- Responds predicably – know the drying times
- Is faithful – Once bonded always bonded
- That’s it!
Fiberglass repairs is all about replacing those laminate layers in the style they were made.
Ugly! But fixable too!
Prepare The Damage For Fixing
Preparation by cleaning and grinding ensures boat repairs are equal in strength to the rest of the hull. The layers which make up the hull can be damaged. When repairs are being undertaken, attention needs to be given to them before gelcoat repair can begin.
Look Out For Blistering
Unlike other blistering, this material blisters whilst the boat is in the water. The gelcoat is weakened and osmosis takes place as a result. The water bonds chemically with the laminate forming a blister. One in four boats is susceptible to blistering.
By opening the blister and allowing to dry over laying up time, you remove the problem. You need to allow the area affected to dry out over a matter of months, rather than days. Depending on the severity
Impact Damage
Impact damage for boat fiberglass repair can be daunting. The difficulty lies in getting the laminates to be continuous with the rest of the hull. Cutting out the damaged area and using resin to cover the hole makes the job easier.
Locate the damaged area from inside. If there is nothing in the way of cutting the damage out - then do so. Remember that there will be delamination around the damage, so tap around the edges to evaluate.
Delamination occurs as the water gets between the laminates in the area of the damage.
Here is a video presentation for your information:
Want more for your money? West Marine are giving away 10% on orders over £100!
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This is fiberglass gelcoat repair
Know the enemy fiberglass laminate repair
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Boat Fiberglass Repair
June 13, 2009 by Chris Wethered
Filed under Fiberglass Boat Repair And Sailboat Painting
One of the principal considerations of boat fiberglass repair is moisture. You cannot let it take hold, otherwise your repair bill will run into thousands.
As soon as the layers of laminates are exposed, or the gelcoat is corrupted then you need to be extra careful. Imagine the pages of a book that have come into contact with water. The water is absorbed through the leaves.
In similar fashion, the laminates making up your deck or hull are subject to moisture moving between them.The longer the moisture stays the worst the damage caused.By removing suspect laminates with a grinder, you can then begin the repair.
Different methods are used, depending on the damage involved.
You will Need:
- Polyester Resin
- Styrene
- Gelcoat
- PVA
- A Grinder
Whatever the craft, you can, with practice fix the issues
Small Areas
Catalyze a small amount of polyester resin, thickened with chopped glass fibers. To reactivate the laminate surface, wipe with Styrene . Now fill until the bottom of the gelcoat layer is reached.
Wait for the resin to set before applying gelcoat. Before the gelcoat sets use PVA to enhance the cure. Polish the replaced area when the gelcoat is fully cured.
Larger Areas
This is where a grinder is used to smooth out the damaged area, so that sheets of laminate can be layered, repairing the damage. Wipe the area to be re laminated with Styrene to reactivate the bonding qualities of the older laminate. Polyester resin is mixed with chopped glass fiber producing the laminate sheets required. When the repair reaches the gelcoat layer, allow a complete cure before continuing.
If it’s products you require, then look no further! Below is a selection of materials you are looking for to complete your project.
Learn more about fillers here:
Did you know about the 10% discount at West Marine right now?
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Know the enemy fiberglass laminate repair
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