Repairing Guides

how to repair fiberglass boat deck

by Dayna Schowalter Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How to Repair a Fiberglass Boat Deck

  1. Simple Materials Needed
  2. Preparation Is Essential. Begin by carefully and diligently cleaning the repair area thoroughly and any surrounding area. ...
  3. Support Area Being Worked. Most all fiberglass repairs will need to be done from the backside or underside of the area being repaired.
  4. Rough-up Repair Surface. ...
  5. Begin Repair. ...
  6. Final Finishing. ...

Part of a video titled Deck Repairs Part 3: Bonding the New Core - YouTube
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Extra slow hardener in this heat. This is two days later and as you can see it's starting out quiteMoreExtra slow hardener in this heat. This is two days later and as you can see it's starting out quite foggy I had to pull the fiberglass. Back off then let the epoxy cure overnight.

Full Answer

How do you repair fiberglass on a boat?

You can:

  • Roll it on with a paint roller
  • Paint it on with a brush
  • Spray it on with a spray gun.

How to repair a rotten boat deck?

4 Mistakes to Avoid When Repairing a Rotting Boat Floor

  1. Not Cleaning First. Check out boat flooring on Amazon. ...
  2. Leaving Rot Behind. After you have cleaned the area, you will want to remove all of the damaged wood. ...
  3. Nailing the Boat Floor. This is a mistake that many people make without even realizing they are doing it. ...
  4. Using the Wrong Materials. The best thing you can do when fixing a boat floor is to use epoxy. ...

How to replace a boat deck?

  • Many owners chose to go with a new marine carpet. ...
  • Another option to replace marine carpet is using truck bed liners. ...
  • Snap-In Carpet is also an inexpensive and more flexible alternative. ...
  • Replacing boat carpets with vinyl can bring you wonderful experiences. ...
  • Can be quite different, but Durabak marine paint is an incredible boat carpet alternative. ...

How to fix fiberglass boat?

  • In case breaks were uncovered with a V formed scrubber, complete the maintenance as trails setting up the harmed region as depicted previously:
  • Quill the edges with the scrubber or with 100-coarseness sandpaper and brush the surface liberated from dust and free material.
  • Wet out the breaks with a 105 Resin/hardener combination. ...

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How do you repair fiberglass deck?

0:1319:40How to repair Fiberglass Deck Core - Installing new Fiberglass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe sanded the bottom skin a fiberglass really coarse. So we get a good surface to adhere to weMoreWe sanded the bottom skin a fiberglass really coarse. So we get a good surface to adhere to we thicken some epoxy resin. And we laid it down on that lower skin.

How do you repair a soft spot on a boat deck?

3:5512:41MAS Epoxies Fixing Soft Deck Part 1&2 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInto any structure on the boat a deck is a structural repair I like to use epoxy resin versusMoreInto any structure on the boat a deck is a structural repair I like to use epoxy resin versus polyester resin you're going to get a much stronger repair.

How do you repair a fiberglass boat floor?

4:0823:35How to: Repair Fibreglass Boat Floor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI think gluing and filling filler in with our boat coat resin. See that that that's what I'd callMoreI think gluing and filling filler in with our boat coat resin. See that that that's what I'd call tomato sauce or a little bit thicker.

How do you repair a fiberglass boat hull from the outside?

Step-by-Step Guide To Repair Fiberglass Boat Hull From the OutsideStep 1: Grind around the hole. ... Step 2: Clean the damaged area. ... Step 3: Back up the hole. ... Step 4: Prepare the patch. ... Step 5: Prepare the resin. ... Step 6: Apply the layers of roving. ... Step 7: Apply the fiberglass cloth.More items...

How do you fix soft spots on fiberglass boat?

If the problem is due to fiberglass weakening, you'll want to sand the affected area until the soft spot is noticeably lower than the surrounding area. In fact, in certain spots, you might sand all the way through the fiberglass.

What does a soft spot on a boat mean?

Hi Jeff, Normally, a soft spot is caused when the foam beneath the fiberglass deck gets compressed. The fiberglass usually pops back into place but the foam remains compressed. Soft spots can be caused several ways. The most common is body weight being bounced up & down in the same spot.

How do you repair boat flooring?

2:138:28Cheap fix for a rotten boat floor (Part 1 of 2) Installing new plywoodYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd this plywood is all three quarter-inch pressure-treated. It's the boat the floor was reallyMoreAnd this plywood is all three quarter-inch pressure-treated. It's the boat the floor was really quite good it was just soft in one spot. The size of maybe twice the size of a cigarette package.

How do you Epoxy a boat floor?

11:2314:39Boat Transom and Floor Rebuild - Using the Epoxy ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey're glass coders and basically what you'll do is you'll just get like a painters tray. Full ofMoreThey're glass coders and basically what you'll do is you'll just get like a painters tray. Full of mixed up epoxy resin or you can use polyester if you're just coding wood for sealant purposes.

Can You Use Flex Seal on a fiberglass boat?

You can use flex paste on a wide variety of surfaces such as wood, glass, tile, concrete, aluminum, metal, brick, stucco, masonry, copper, fabric, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain, natural stones, roofing, pvc, eifs, epdm, cspe, hypalon polyurethanes and so much more. Flex seal liquid works in the most extreme conditions.

Can you repair fiberglass with Bondo?

Bondo Body Filler cures fast, shapes in minutes and is formulated to be a non-shrinking and permanently durable material. In addition to its uses on vehicle exteriors and other metal surfaces it is also a suitable repair option for wood, fiberglass and concrete.

Can you repair fiberglass with epoxy?

Epoxy is a great adhesive One reason that an epoxy product such as WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy is so useful for fibreglass boat repairs is that it's an incredibly effective adhesive. It creates a resilient bond to fibreglass, cured polyester laminates, wood and metals – even when you only use a thin film.

How do you repair a soft spot on a boat hull?

Use the resin-based putty to fill in the depression or hole, working the putty into the depths of the damaged area carefully with the small-blade putty knife; use the large-blade putty knife to fill in the rest of the damage.

How do you repair a rotted boat floor?

2:138:28Cheap fix for a rotten boat floor (Part 1 of 2) Installing new plywoodYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd this plywood is all three quarter-inch pressure-treated. It's the boat the floor was reallyMoreAnd this plywood is all three quarter-inch pressure-treated. It's the boat the floor was really quite good it was just soft in one spot. The size of maybe twice the size of a cigarette package.

How do you fix soft spots on the floor?

2:5310:49How To Fill Hollow Spots Inside Vinyl Plank Flooring LVP Laminate And ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd one is just straight needle just like that which is perfect. You can actually go and cut thisMoreAnd one is just straight needle just like that which is perfect. You can actually go and cut this out attach this right here you can unscrew the top whenever we're filling.

How do you check a soft spot on a boat?

Look around all deck penetrations, hatches, wells, center console,inspection plates, tank cover plate etc. Take small steps and put all your weight on on foot at a time. If you find one, keep probing around untill you get an idea as to size. Also check transom for rot on these older models.

What tools do I need to repair a boat deck?

You’ll need a saber saw, crowbar, hammer, chisel, pick, and a drill with screw bits. Most of your initial work will be with the saw, cutting around the perimeter of the deck. Set the saw blade by first drilling a hole in the rotten boat deck and using a probe to measure its thickness.

How long does it take to remove a rotten deck?

Cut out the old rotten deck or section of deck that’s rotten. As a point of reference, you can plan on this taking about four hours with two workers, to remove the deck on an 18-foot center console. You’ll need a saber saw, crowbar, hammer, chisel, pick, and a drill with screw bits.

When replacing a deck right up to the gunwales, do you run putty around the edges?

When replacing a deck right up to the gunwales you may want to run putty around the edges to create a radius, because fiberglass hates sharp angles and laying a neat 90-degree turn is exceedingly difficult.

Can you replace a rotten boat deck?

Replacing a rotten boat deck is a fairly common task, and it’s a lot easier than you might think. Hopefully, when you bought your boat you gave it a thorough pre-purchase inspection and didn’t get any nasty surprises. But if you buy a fixer-upper or have an older boat you love and don’t want to part with, there’s a fair chance you’ll need ...

How to fix deep scratches on boat?

To fix gouges and deep scratches, you’ll need “chop” (powdered fiberglass) filler, gel coat and gel coat reducer. Jot down your boat’s model and serial numbers and contact the manufacturer to order gel coat (about $100 per qt.) to match your boat’s color.

What is the gel coat on a fiberglass boat?

All fiberglass boats have a thick structural core of fiberglass strands impregnated with polyester resin. But the part you actually see is the gel coat. That’s the thin layer of pigmented resin that gives the boat its sheen and color. Most light scratches are in the gel coat layer.

How to mix gel coat?

Mixing gel coat is a messy and stinky process—so wear chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles and a respirator. Start with a small amount of gel coat and stir in the chop and hardener to make a putty that’s the consistency of peanut butter (Photo 3).

What is a repair pro?

A repair pro shows you how to make invisible fixes for scuffs, dents and scratches in fiberglass boats and other fiberglass items. You'll save a ton of money if you're patient and use the proper tools.

How long does it take for resin to harden?

Once you add the hardener, you’ve only got a 10- to 20-minute “open” time, so mix small batches and work on one gouge at a time. Thorough mixing is critical to proper curing. Spend a full minute stirring. If you don’t, you’ll end up with patches of sticky resin that can take days to harden.

Can you spray gel coat on fiberglass?

Spraying gel coat isn’t like spraying paint. It splatters on and has to be sanded and buffed to get to a smooth gloss. So don’t be disappointed that the finish isn’t paint-like right away during your fiberglass boat repair.

How to use epoxy on a delaminated wood floor?

Inject the thickened mix into all holes drilled in the delaminated area. Work the epoxy into all areas between the skin and core. Allow the epoxy to cure. Add pressure to the skin to force it into contact with the core until the epoxy cures.

What is delamination on a boat?

Delamination is a common deck and hull construction problem which tends to get worse if left unattended. Eventually, it can reach a point where the overall structural integrity of the hull and deck may be compromised so it’s really important to know how to perform a high quality with this fibreglass boat repair.

What causes delamination in laminated wood?

It is usually caused by physical stress to the fibreglass surface which splits the surface skin and allows water to enter the laminate and travel into the core. It can also occur from repeated surface impact, even ...

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