Hole repair...

[gman1001]

Ok, NOT from hitting a rock! Just bought an 18' and I'm taking off lots of stuff from the console plus the gunnels have rod holders downrigger plates etc.. that are all coming off.

I have the spirit but not the skill to work with fiberglass. I was thinking i'd just place nice stainless screws into each hole to plug them. Maybe fill each hole with sealant too.

Thoughts? What do you guys do?

[Islandtrader]

It really is not that tough to work with fiberglass. Also the smaller holes can be filled with marine bondo, and the job will look much neater than a 1000 ss screws. If you search the repair posts you can learn a lot.

I am sure if you want real specifics post some pictures and you will have more help than you ever thought off.

[fg1]

"marine" bondo ? hmmmmmm

[Fr. Frank]

Marine Bondo is just a thickened fiberglass resin to which you add catalyst. It is not their regular plastic mender. It just has the name we have learned to distrust on the water.

I used it on plugging bolt holes where my old kicker bracket used to be. It looks like regular fiberglass resin, i.e.; transparent light yellow color. I bought a pint of it because West Marine here was actually out of MarineTex polyester mender. Worked just fine.

[thedog]

small screw repairs and such I have just filled with 5200 and said good enough
with a small tube of it just press it into the hole let a small amount over flow on the top side, when it dries just trim flush with a razor blade, looks OK to me

[Islandtrader]

"marine" bondo ? hmmmmmm

I was trying to be Generic since gman was new to the world of fiberglass.

If I told him to get some P-78 High-Heat Resist Filler Fairing Compound (Polyester Resin)from Adtech Plastic Systems he most likely would say "What"

[gman1001]

sounds good, how do you guys finish it? Do you mix up a little gel coat and then top off the marine bondo or 5200 to try to make it look nice?

[thedog]

sounds good, how do you guys finish it? Do you mix up a little gel coat and then top off the marine bondo or 5200 to try to make it look nice?

if you just have small screw holes the finish will be ok just with the 5200
if the holes are larger bolt holes then it will not look so good then you open a new can of worms with either paint or gel coat

[gman1001]

yeah, I have everything from small screws to large 1/8" and 1/4" bolt holes....

GRRRR

[ricknewman]

Just mix up some West Systems resin and hardener with a little thickening fiber and leave it 1/8 shy and finish with some gelcoat. Matching the color is the hardest part.