C-Forum

I don't really know the exact thing to ask so I'll kinda blurt out some general questions.

When should I start thinking about repairing the scratch, gouges, nicks and whatnot on the bottom of a glass boat?

After taking it out a coulpe of times there are a few spots where the fibers are exposed (nicks and shallow gouges) I had expected this and figure it's probably the norm but how bad should they be before I consider doing some work on them?

Also, when applying epoxy to the damaged areas, should I mix in some adhesive filler in the epoxy to cut down on its brittleness (this probably isn't a word) or would straight epoxy be sufficent?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Marshall

Marshal,

My decision point on a repair has been when the damage feels "soft". The determination of which is done by pressing on the area with your thumbs. Softness means you got some delamination going on. This can be repaired as descirbed in the repair section of this website.

My experience with fillers goes something like this:

Cabosil: Can be mixed with epoxy to a spackle like consisitency to use as a filler. This makes it easier to build up. It is very difficult to sand and shape. I would use this as a filler and fabric over it for cosmetic repairs. I think Aerosil is the same thing.

Microspheres/Microballoons: can be added to epoxy to a thinner consistency like a fresh tube of caulk. It needs to be built up with several layers to acheive the results of Cabosil. Microspheres are really good for sanding and shaping and help the epoxy hold its volume when curring. Most people prefer Microballoons as a filler for its ability to be easily sanded.

Fibers or Chop: Sometimes called "gorilla hair" can be mixed with epoxy and used for repairs as you have described though it doesn't quite look as good as fabric so try using it on the inside for a really bad repair with an external fabric repair. Use polyply or saran wrap as a last layer to hold down the fibers so you don't get any sharp points. Try to use the same fibers as your boat. It looks better.

It sounds like you got some normal wear and tear issues. A thin coat of epoxy can smooth out the fiber fluff and fill in minor cracks if it is bugging you or is making the boat "itchy" to carry.

Hope this helps,

Tom

How bad do gouges and scratches have to be before doing something about them?

They have to leak water!

Marshall, are you building a boat this winter? You will likely find it to be much more interesting to do so than to keep spraying resin onto hulls and decks of your current fleet.

If the scratches bother you to look at, try some bowling alley wax and a lambswool buff pad. But unless the gouges are leaking, or hole out when probed with a steel blade, save your resin for doing patches (or building a new boat.)

They only filler Bill McKnight (a 1980's builder of very strong composites) used in his epoxies was white flour, straight from the grocery store shelf. He shunned using whole wheat flour.