HULL REPAIR

[chinaride]

I'M PATCHING A VOID IN THE GLASS ON THE BOTTOM NEAR THE TRANSOM BUT IS THE 407 STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD UP AFTER I REGLASS THE VOID? I HAVE AN AREA OF ABOUT 2 SQUARE FEET. BY THE WAY, THE BOAT IN QUESTION IS NOT A "MATE", ITS MY FRIENDS BAJA HAMMER. HA HA THANKS FOR ANY INFO KYLE

[cooperider]

Bajas tend to have a lot of air bubbles. It should be just in the outer layers so it is just a matter of grind and fill, it can be packed with Dura glass. While you are there take a rubber mallet and tap on all the corners and edges of the bottom, you might as well fix any other voids. They usually fix most of these at the factory but they do slip by.

[Blizz]

I was always under the impresson and told that duraglass is a no no in boats cuz it absorbs water if present. But i notice that you recommend it alot so is this a misinfo on my part. Thanks Blizz

[cooperider]

Auto body filler would soak up the water, Duraglass is basically resin and fiberglass, that is the same stuff as the boat is made of.

Many auto body fillers contain talc.

[Blizz]

Thanks fopr the reply.

[chinaride]

thanxs for all the info. chopped up some fiberglass matt for the big stuff and used that 407 stuff for a pinhole filler, that stuff is rock hard when it dries, had to use 40 on my da to knock it down, then dura glassed a cople of other low spots. not as bad as I thought it was going to be. but gel coat sucks to spray, I think I might have been better of w/ base and clear coat. what do you think? kyle

[cooperider]

Gel coat would be best and is sprayed easily. Mix it 50/50 with a product called Duratech High gloss additive, and it sprays like enamel. You can find this stuff at http://www.fiberglast.com

If its below the waterline then on the last coat use something called "surfacing agent" also available from fiberglast. It is styrene monomer with a small amount of paraffin wax added and this acts as a coating to seal off the air allowing the gel to cure completely.

After it cures for a day then you can wet sand it with 320, 400, 600, 1000 grit paper. Then buff using a heavy compound. Followed by a glaze for polishing.

Heavy with Aquabuff or acrolac, and glaze with Meguires products.

http://www.fiberglast.com also has some how to videos for sale.