fiberglass boat repair - How to do ??

[Cheers]

I have an old fiberglass Tuffy skiff with a crack in the bottom of the hull. Is there a certain type of fiberglass to use and how is the gell coat repaired ?

[Steve Bakken]

All fiberglass is essentially the same. However there are different weaves. There is a random pattern and then there is some that's more like a woven fabric. If you choose, you can match the weave that's on the boat, but it's not totally neccesary. Same with resin. It's all essentially the same chemical, regardless of brand.

As for the gelcoat, the repair will need to be filled and smoothed with a marine-grade filler to eliminate all pinholes. Then you spray the gelcoat on very similar to applying paint. At the shop we use an automotive paint gun with a 2.0 primer tip. After the gelcoat is cured it will be very rough and orange peely. This will need to be sanded smooth and then buffed up until it is smooth and shiny and blends into the original gelcoat material. Hope that helps a little bit. If you have any more questions just let me know, and I'll try to help.