Do you love fishing? Boating? Being out on the lake in the sunshine, enjoying the day? Relaxing, soaking up the sun, and feeling water tickling your toes, inside the boat? Wait a minute, that’s not supposed to be happening! But, as luck would have it, you have a leak. But, you know what, it is quite easy for you to repair that leak, and be back out on that lake in no time. And the only water tickling your toes will be when you stick them in the lake! Off the side of your nicely repaired fiberglass boat floor, thank you very much!
Just follow these instructions and you’ll look like a pro! Here’s what you need to get started:
A fiberglass mat, fiberglass gel coating, Bondo, supports (if you have a curved piece), some sandpaper (from 400 grit up to very fine grit), and cleaning agents. The tools you’ll need are an orbit sander, a scraper, a pair of scissors, a measuring tape, a jigsaw (or coping saw), and some cleaning supplies. Now you’re all set to fix that fiberglass boat floor!
The easiest way to repair a fiberglass boat floor is from the back side of the floor. However, it’s not always feasible to do it this way. But, if you’re lucky and can get to the back side, move all obstacles out of your way and tackle this project!
A smooth edge is always easier to repair. Unless the area is structural, remove the fiberglass area where the leak is. This will ensure a nice surface and make the job a lot easier.
In order for fiberglass adhesive (epoxy) to hold securely, the area must be scrubbed thoroughly. Just don’t use bleach! Bleach and the adhesive don’t make a good combination. Make sure the area is free of any moisture before applying epoxy. If you’re working on a curved area, you’ll need some supports, made from plywood.
Start by creating a coarse surface on the area you’re working on. A wire bristled brush should work quite nicely, or steel wool. This makes the adhesive stick better. Now, you’re ready to cut out a section of the sheet fiberglass. Cut this piece so that it is about three inches larger in size, on all sides, than the damaged area.
If the area of the fiberglass boat floor that you’re repairing is curved, use a foam shape, cover with Bondo, and mold it into the correct curvature. Using the sandpaper, smooth out the surface that’s been coated with adhesive. Now, place the section of fiberglass over the Bondo and use epoxy to create the correct curve. After the adhesive has set, layer with several layers of fiberglass and smooth out the new surface.
When the backing support is completed, ensure that the facing side is free of any debris or dirt. Again, cut the fiberglass section to include the additional three inches, and epoxy to the underside support and deck. Be sure and smooth out any air pockets from the damp fiberglass mat. This step is critical in creating a nice, clean, seamless repair!
Another critical area in repairing the fiberglass boat floor is sanding. Actually, this is probably the most crucial part of a nice professional looking repair. Start with 400 grit sandpaper, sand, clean the area, use a finer grit paper, and repeat these steps until the area is as close as possible to the undamaged floor. If you are required to paint the repaired area, smooth out the area well beyond what you think is enough, because paint will show the slightest bump on the surface!
Just a bit of advice, don’t tell your friends that you did this job yourself, because you know what will happen. They’ll call you next time they need a fiberglass boat floor repaired, and you’re going to be spending too much time relaxing in the sun out on the lake to be bothered!
Sources
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Boat-Repair-2123/Fiberglass-Boat-Floor-Replacement.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Repair-a-Fiberglass-Boat-Floor&id;=1562456
