Fiberglass repairs

[Mac_Attack]

I have Stinky's choice, I'd like to have yours. *I'm going to glass over my transom cap like Stinky did. *What is easier to use and is there a difference in how they bond. *Mat material (randomly spread fibers) or the woven type. *Here is a picture of the gap I will be covering. *Any other knowledge is wanted too, ex. how far to grind back etc. *Thanks Billy Mac

These two photos show the transom cap before the Motor was removed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/P1010002.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/P1010001.jpg


Here is the transom minus the motor and all of the plastic cap cover.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/P1010008-1.jpg

This shows the gap that is there. *the filler is being removed. *On the left you can see the old filler.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/008-3.jpg

This show Dan using a Dewalt model of a roto zip to clean out the old filler
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/P1010011.jpg

I've taped it off where I will sand down the gel coat to bare fiber glass.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/P1010012.jpg
I forgot to take a photo of it sanded down because I wanted to get home to see the Red Wings game, but we sanded it down and then squirted acetone into the holes and cracks to displace any water.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/P1010003.jpg

Wood in transom treated with CPES. Someting like get rot. Wood was firm but still treated it before sealing cap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/12.jpg

Gap filled with 1/4 inch chopped fiberglass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/15.jpg

[macojoe]

I see what your pm was about now!

I would get any lose stuff out of there, then grind all gel coat 3 inches away from the infected area, I would use something like formula 27 as a filler, then cloth and resin to seal, sand then paint.

But I would be asking Stink, skools since they have already done it.

Good luck and don't for get the pic's!

[Mac_Attack]

Pictures will follow for sure. What Wellcraft did on mine was to seal the void between the liner and hull with a resin and filler mix. Though the years this seal cracked and opened up about 1/4 inch.

[Stinky_Hooker]

MJ is all over it....he speaks the truth! Preach it brother MJ, PREACH IT!! *;D


There are 3 basic types of glass (cloth, not resin) that are most common.


I call them cloth, mat and weave or woven mat.

Cloth: I use for small repairs that are not as structurally important, but appearance is. I also use as a top layer on mat to help smooth things over and make fairing easier. It turns corners well.

Cloth

http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com/pictureprocessor/images/220point20320oz20sq20yd20fiberglass20cloth.jpg


The next step up is "mat". This is probably the most commonly used for boat repairs. It is heavier than cloth and very good for structurally stressed areas, like what you are doing...transoms, stringers, basic building of fish boxes, etc...It will turns corners, but unless you have rounded things off pretty smoothly will leave an air pocket behind it.

MAC, make sure you use a coarse disc grinder or belt sander to give your transom a nice round contour whee the corners are or it will "air pocket" on the edges.

Mat

http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com/pictureprocessor/images/24-glassmat.jpg



The last and most heavy duty is the "woven mat" or "weave" as I call it. At first glance it looks similar to the cloth we first mentioned. It is in pattern, but not at all in weight...its 10x heavier at least.

This stuff is STOUT. It is very thick and takes a TON of resin to fully saturate it. It is for structural areas that are VERY important. Alot of boat building (including Wellcraft) use this type to bond stringers to hulls. It is hard to turn corners with unless it is a very gradual sweep. You also don't want to use this stuff anywhere that aesthetics matter because it takes alot of work to fair it out.

Weave

http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com/pictureprocessor/images/Fiberglass_Woven_Roving_600g_m2.jpg







Hope this helps!! *;D

[Stillrunning]

The only problem with doing what you want is if you every want to take the boat apart to repair the transom, runners etc... you will have to cut it apart. I used L shaped aluminum and made one. I did bondo the joints but they would be easy to repair if I ever took the boat apart. If I ever get my camera back I'd post some pics.

[Stinky_Hooker]

If I ever have to take my boat apart the transom will be the least of my worries...my first concern will be to find another boat! ;D

[Warner_Foster]

Mac,
Suggest that you purchase for less than $10.00, Fiberglass Boat Repair & Maintenance number 002-550 published by west system Inc. 1-866-937-8797. Got mine from the local West Marine store. Has lots of good information, which I believe will assist you. It was the best money I had spent in a long time.
Good Luck

[parishht]

Here is what the front cover looks like:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/parishht/fiberglassbook.jpg

[Mac_Attack]

I've got the West book, there is lots in there. I just did not know what material i should get. I thinks about the 2-3 inch tape they show in the west book. Question for Stinky, did you wrap the inside edge of the transom or just the outside? I'll be calling you when I get closer to doing the repair. It's too darn cold up here! Thanks Guys keep posting. Billy Mac ;D

[Stinky_Hooker]

I've got the West book, *there is lots in there. *I just did not know what material i should get. *I thinks about the 2-3 inch tape they show in the west book. *Question for Stinky, did you wrap the inside edge of the transom or just the outside? *I'll be calling you when I get closer to doing the repair. *It's too darn cold up here! *Thanks Guys keep posting. *Billy Mac *;D


Yes I went over about 2 inches inside and out.


I roughed up the gelcoat about 3", over lapped 2" so that way I had a little room to fair it out and it not be too obvious.

[Skools Out]

i went 4 inches on mine inside and out

[Stinky_Hooker]

i went 4 inches on mine inside and out



Skools, we didnt need to know all that info...we are talking about transom caps here, you pervert! ::)

[chitbob1]

I believe I would go with a biaxle with 1 1/2 oz. mat built on it very strong

[reelapeelin]

Mac can ya tell how deep the gap between outter and inner hull?...seems to me, if you glass over a void, it'll just recrack sooner or later...fill the gap w/ something...I'd think pourin' it up w/Seacast would do it...but don't leave it open and just glass over... :D ...

[Parrot_Head]

Have any of you used Bondo to fill in voids ?? Then glass over that ?? A friend told me that yesterday and i find that hard to believe. He said Marine Tex and Bondo are identical except Marine Tex has fibers in it to make it a little stronger. Any truth ?? Didnt mean to derail this thread.

Scott

[Mac_Attack]

Parrot the guy at our fiberglass shop said you can use Bondo to fill. *At work we have a composite dept, the guy there recomended using the epoxy resin with chopped fiber glass fiber for a little more strength along with the hardener. *The strength here comes from the resin and matting, right Stinky, Skools? *

Reel there was not too big of an unfilled gap, only a crack. *Wellcraft either put a bed of filler down before setting the liner in or they reely pushed the filler way back in there. *

I've added more photo to the very first post to show the steps I'm taking. * Billy Mac *;D

[lumberslinger178]

parrot , your friend is 100% rite , here on lbi we fiberglass our decks on these houses we build and they use bondo before they glass works like a champ....

[lumberslinger178]

heres one we just did not long ago

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/lumberslinger178/DSC01007.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/lumberslinger178/DSC01008.jpg

[lumberslinger178]

these guys are doing bondo on all the seams in the plywood and nail holes,,,,, take note that all this plywood is pre coated with a fiberglass resin before its laid and theses guys get about 10 to 12 dollars a square foot to do this...... this house had about 25,000.00 dollars worth of glass work done.

[lumberslinger178]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/lumberslinger178/DSC01037.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/lumberslinger178/DSC01038.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/lumberslinger178/DSC01039.jpg

[Skools Out]

yes alot of boat company's use bondo to create chines on the hulls in the molds then glass over it. you can mix you bondo in to resin with hardner and that will make your bondo hard as a rock and water proof cause raw bondo will soak up moisture.

[Warner_Foster]

Skool,
Help me understand. Are you saying mix bondo and its hardner then add the mixed bondo to epoxy resin and hardener?

[Skools Out]

no not epoxy and bondo mix your poky resin with hardner and then add some bondo to it to thicken and it is like micro ballons but harder. you can add hardner to your bondo first but will set up fast or just put a little extra hardner to your poly / boat yard resin.

[bigshrimpin]

This will give you a good idea the difference choices of addatives you have for various resins.

http://www.shopmaninc.com/fillers.html

Bondo is cheap and not very strong. If you're going to use it . . . do what skools said . . . mix it with some Polyester resin.

If you want to mud that gap milled fibers, cabosil, and epoxy mix will give you the strongest goop. Make sure everything is dry and that you prep and clean the surfaces. Tape off the area to keep the mess contained and pull of the tape when the repair is still tacky.

Warner - it's a big no no to use polyester over epoxy . . . and you can't mix the two resins.

[Mac_Attack]

New photos in first post.

[Stinky_Hooker]

LOOKN GOOD MAN!

Nice!! 8)