Repairing Guides

how to repair screw holes in fiberglass boat

by Reagan Stracke Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Hole going right through fiberglass into the boat:

  • First, examine the hole and look for cracks and chips extending out from the hole. Use a marker to circle the entire damaged area. ...
  • Next, take a saw and cut out the damaged area that you’ve circled with the marker.
  • Now that the holes cut out, you need to determine the thickness of the hull substrate and multiply that by 10. ...
  • Using a power sander with a 50 grit sanding disc, you can now bevel the whole edge out to your mark.
  • Once you’ve finished bevelling the area, you now need to find something to go in behind the hole to block it. ...

Part of a video titled How to easily fix drilled holes in fiberglass - YouTube
1:20
4:44
It's got fiberglass strands in it. And you want to apply it to the hole. And actually push puttyMoreIt's got fiberglass strands in it. And you want to apply it to the hole. And actually push putty into the hole. You really want that putty to go all the way through until it comes out the other side.

Full Answer

Can I use epoxy to fill old screw holes in fiberglass?

Re: Filling old screw holes in a fiberglass boat. I used it to fill screw holes that were through the hull. Before filling, I chamfered the edges of the hole from the outside so there was more surface area for the epoxy to grip. None of the filled holes has loosened up or leaked.

How do you fix a hole in a fiberglass boat?

Hole going right through fiberglass into the boat: First, examine the hole and look for cracks and chips extending out from the hole. Use a marker to circle the entire damaged area. Making sure to include the cracked spots.

What is the best repair kit for a fiberglass boat?

There is a fiberglass repair kit on Amazon called West System 105-K Fiberglass Boat Repair Kit that is great for repairing cracks, scraps, gelcoat blisters, loose hardware, damaged keels and smaller holes under 1″ in diameter.

How do you fill the hole behind a fiberglass door?

Any time you are able to access the area behind the fiberglass it is best to add a wood backer plate. I coat the wood with epoxy and attach it the inside with another coat. When it sets you can fill and redrill the hole.

How Much Does Fiberglass Repair Cost?

Why does my gelcoat crack?

How Do You Get Scratches Out of Gelcoat?

What is gelcoat on a boat?

What is a West System 105 K fiberglass repair kit?

What grit disc do you use to bevel a wood edge?

How long does it take to repair a chip?

See more

image

What to use to fill holes in fiberglass?

When you are trying to repair a small hole in fiberglass, the best type of product to use is a premium epoxy. This will insure a proper repair and will not allow for shrinking of the material and create a water tight seal. We recommend the Hawk Epoxy Kit. It contains the epoxy resin, catalyst and filler for the job.

How do you seal old screw holes in a boat?

Get a countersink bit from your local home improvement store and clean up the holes from the outside and inside of the livewell. If you aren't concerned with an exact color match on the inside, I found that white Loctite Marine Epoxy from HD (comes in a two tube plunger pack) works well.

How do you fill screw holes in gelcoat?

1:389:32Part 4 - How to Repair Screw Holes in a Fiberglass Boat - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply the gel coat to the damaged. Area build up enough to be able to sand even with the existingMoreApply the gel coat to the damaged. Area build up enough to be able to sand even with the existing surface without exposing the screw hole or damaged.

How do you fill a small hole in a fiberglass boat?

6:0612:09How to Fix a Hole in Your Boat DIY (Below the Waterline) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the epoxy could properly adhere to the gel coat. And fiberglass hull and the last thing i like toMoreSo the epoxy could properly adhere to the gel coat. And fiberglass hull and the last thing i like to do is hit it with some compressed air to blow away any dust especially inside the hole.

Will epoxy resin hold screws?

The epoxy resin may be used to fill in the holes where screws reside, and once the composite has hardened, gives a much more stable bond than hardware alone.

Can you use epoxy on fiberglass?

Epoxy is ideal for wetting out fibreglass You need to work hard to get an even, consistent coating – normally using a foam roller, brush or metal paddle roller. With epoxy, it's like using warm butter – the epoxy does the work for you.

How do you Epoxy screw holes?

4:319:10Putting a screw into GRP or Epoxy Resin - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then the screw was just put into it while the epoxy was wet. And screwed down not fully. So itMoreAnd then the screw was just put into it while the epoxy was wet. And screwed down not fully. So it hits the bottom there but the wd-40 seams have done the job in their release Alicia's.

Can JB Weld be used on fiberglass?

The results of the JB Weld Plastic Bonder fiberglass repair were excellent. Not only was the process quick and easy, but the panels look like they did from factory. The bond is strong; we would use this stuff on just about any plastic or fiberglass component that needed to be repaired.

Can you screw into fiberglass boat?

1:583:37Lumitec Minute Expert: Drilling & Screwing Fiberglass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWell. You need to look to size your drill bit very carefully with respect to the screw itself. WhenMoreWell. You need to look to size your drill bit very carefully with respect to the screw itself. When we talk about a screw there's two things we talked about a major diameter and a minor diameter.

How do you seal screw holes in a boat deck?

6:1012:53Getting Rid Of Old Screw Holes In Fiberglass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is silica silica is a great additive or filler to use with with epoxy. And as far as how thickMoreThis is silica silica is a great additive or filler to use with with epoxy. And as far as how thick I'm gonna make. This.

How do you fill old transducer holes?

AdministratorFill the holes with Life Caulk and allow to cure. Add an additional blob from the inside. ... Get some flat headed #12 screws, countersink the holes slightly, and install them into the holes with Life Caulk.Drill the holes out larger and fill with an epoxy plug. ... Order some quick cure 5200 and fill the holes.

How do you fill screw holes in aluminum boat?

Use a rust-resistant stainless steel screw that will tap into the hole. Using marine epoxy, coat the crew threads thoroughly. Insert the screw into the hole and tighten, once tight, go inside the boat hull and apply a liberal coating of marine epoxy to the exposed screw thread.

How do you seal old transducer holes on an aluminum boat?

1:5115:01HOW TO SEAL Old Holes In Your TRANSOM {TIGHTEN UP TUESDAY}YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat's what you do is you put 5200 which is a caulking by 3m it's a waterproof caulking. You put itMoreThat's what you do is you put 5200 which is a caulking by 3m it's a waterproof caulking. You put it on the screw.

How Much Does Fiberglass Repair Cost?

The cost to repair fiberglass and gelcoat will vary depending on how much damage is done. Typically this cost could range from $75 to $125, per hour in most places. Again depending on how severe the damage is, this could take anywhere from a few hours, to several hours. For example, chips and gouges can take a few hours, while an actual hole could take five to ten hours.

Why does my gelcoat crack?

You might notice that over time your gelcoat might start to show ‘spider web’ looking cracks which would indicate a weakness in the underlying fiberglass. Another problem you might notice with the gelcoat is blistering, which generally means that there is a water intrusion under the gelcoat itself.

How Do You Get Scratches Out of Gelcoat?

If your scratches are on the surface of the gelcoat, then those can be buffed out using a polishing compound , but if the scratches are deep they’ll need to be filled in. Normally if the surrounding gelcoat is in good condition, you can use a gelcoat paste to fill in the scratches. Because the surface of the cured gelcoat paste will be uneven, you will need to sand and polish the repair area.

What is gelcoat on a boat?

The gelcoat on a boat is the outer surface layer on a fiberglass boat hull, which is designed to protect the bottom layers of fiberglass, and give your boat that color and shine finish. The gelcoat is made up of special polyester resin and fiberglass, or epoxy resin which is typically used with carbon fiber for extra strength and water-resistance.

What is a West System 105 K fiberglass repair kit?

If your fiberglass repair is not too big, you can get away with buying a repair kit to fix the problem yourself. There is a fiberglass repair kit on Amazon called West System 105-K Fiberglass Boat Repair Kit that is great for repairing cracks, scraps, gelcoat blisters, loose hardware, damaged keels and smaller holes under 1″ in diameter. The package comes with everything you will need to perform the repair, as well as detailed instructions on how to use the product.

What grit disc do you use to bevel a wood edge?

Using a power sander with a 50 gri t sanding disc, you can now bevel the whole edge out to your mark.

How long does it take to repair a chip?

Again depending on how severe the damage is, this could take anywhere from a few hours, to several hours. For example, chips and gouges can take a few hours, while an actual hole could take five to ten hours. You can choose to repair the damage yourself, and in most cases, it’s a fairly easy, straightforward procedure.

What are the screws on boats called?

Most 'screws' used on boats are 'wood screws' ... that can easily tear out of fiberglass.

What happens when you put pliers on fiberglass?

Once inserted the pliers are squeezed together and the cylinder is collapsed leaving a ballooned bulb behind the fiberglass and a rim around the outside. The tool is removed leaving a threaded insert behind which will receive a bolt. I always use locktite on the bolts when they are installed.

What to use to fill holes in a drywall wall?

Fill the holes with epoxy thickened with colloidal silica, let cure and redrill.

What to use instead of screws?

Use bolts instead of screws if possible.

How thick is FRP?

Machine screws and self-tapping screws can actually work well, within proper limits. The FRP must be thick enough. Machine screws, for example, must be at least 1/4 ", course thread, and threaded through 2x diameter of high density FRP. That done, they will break before pulling out.

What happened to Maine Sail?

On September 1st, Maine Sail suffered a major hemorrhagic stroke. One of the most generous members of our sailing community, he has helped thousands. Now it's our turn. Click here to learn more

Do sheet metal screws have a shoulder?

You'll find that such sheet metal screws have a thicker/larger diameter at the threads, more open spaced threads, threads that run all the way from the tip to 'flush with the head" (many wood screws do not - they have a 'shoulder' or missing section of threads AT the head).

How Much Does Fiberglass Repair Cost?

The cost to repair fiberglass and gelcoat will vary depending on how much damage is done. Typically this cost could range from $75 to $125, per hour in most places. Again depending on how severe the damage is, this could take anywhere from a few hours, to several hours. For example, chips and gouges can take a few hours, while an actual hole could take five to ten hours.

Why does my gelcoat crack?

You might notice that over time your gelcoat might start to show ‘spider web’ looking cracks which would indicate a weakness in the underlying fiberglass. Another problem you might notice with the gelcoat is blistering, which generally means that there is a water intrusion under the gelcoat itself.

How Do You Get Scratches Out of Gelcoat?

If your scratches are on the surface of the gelcoat, then those can be buffed out using a polishing compound , but if the scratches are deep they’ll need to be filled in. Normally if the surrounding gelcoat is in good condition, you can use a gelcoat paste to fill in the scratches. Because the surface of the cured gelcoat paste will be uneven, you will need to sand and polish the repair area.

What is gelcoat on a boat?

The gelcoat on a boat is the outer surface layer on a fiberglass boat hull, which is designed to protect the bottom layers of fiberglass, and give your boat that color and shine finish. The gelcoat is made up of special polyester resin and fiberglass, or epoxy resin which is typically used with carbon fiber for extra strength and water-resistance.

What is a West System 105 K fiberglass repair kit?

If your fiberglass repair is not too big, you can get away with buying a repair kit to fix the problem yourself. There is a fiberglass repair kit on Amazon called West System 105-K Fiberglass Boat Repair Kit that is great for repairing cracks, scraps, gelcoat blisters, loose hardware, damaged keels and smaller holes under 1″ in diameter. The package comes with everything you will need to perform the repair, as well as detailed instructions on how to use the product.

What grit disc do you use to bevel a wood edge?

Using a power sander with a 50 gri t sanding disc, you can now bevel the whole edge out to your mark.

How long does it take to repair a chip?

Again depending on how severe the damage is, this could take anywhere from a few hours, to several hours. For example, chips and gouges can take a few hours, while an actual hole could take five to ten hours. You can choose to repair the damage yourself, and in most cases, it’s a fairly easy, straightforward procedure.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9