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filling holes

mixedbag

Well-known member
Hello,
Gonna redo my poly, need to fill existing holes to make it easier. Anybody ever used 5200 to fill the holes, or is it better to mix up some resin? Put it on some saw horses do it from the bottom.

Thanks for any info,
JDJ
 
Mix up some cab o sel and resin, the thickness of wheel bearing grease. You can add your hardner as you use it. Countersink the holes just a touch. It's just like bondo. Oh I forgot to tell make damn sure you wear some sort of breathing protection. Cab o sel is ground up fiberglass cloth
 
I didn't read a glass hull or alum? Both are a pain but if it's glass? Clear packaging tape on the lower side will save you an enormous amount of grinding/sanding later. It peels real easy unless you make your resin mix hot and toasty?
Freshen up the holes regardless to good hull material, not old holes with calcium buildup!
Alum is simple bust your ass to fill those! Weld up and grind/sand from both sides and a dab of contact cement on any recesses could help with that future dribble leak to a hole that wasn't welded full.

Can use marine tex -jbweld-5200- liquid nails- duct tape, but what do you want to run on is more the point.
 
If the hull is able to be welded that's the best course of repair. If you can't weld it then the other options can extend the boats life. I used JB on an thin aluminum boat and had results better than I ever expected.

Prep is important regardless of product used, VERY IMPORTANT
 
SWAMPHUNTER45 said:
Everyone has a favorite and a story. I used JB on an aluminum boat and had results better than I ever expected.

Prep is important regardless of product used, VERY IMPORTANT

Great point!
Jb weld sticks to lime ok but tends to pop when the lime pops from the hole.

Good prep is vital!
 
My technique was to push it thru and make a bond on each side. Having two people working together was a huge help. With the prep we sanded or wire brushed then wiped down with acetone prior to using the JB epoxy. Getting the epoxy on the target quickly is beneficial as it tends to stiffen rather quickly in the heat.

I tried resin once and it didn't hold up for me.
 
FGCI super bond!

Used to cream welds tainted grey on salt water t-tops and many other uses. Just can't apply some paints to it or gel coats!
 
Thanks for info, it is a glass hull, cab o sel sounds good, an old guy showed me a trick to mix baby powder with resin, wonder if it has same strength?
 
All good advice!
FG Resin in this heat by yourself maybe 3 ounces at a time with pre cut mat from inside. No use adding mat on the outside bottom because your going to sand it off unless its a hook-recess-dip-wave?
Easier to blend and bond if you have cloth that's the same as the hull. Flap wheel a quarter size around the hole all the way to glass.
I've never tried getting sneaky about it and not gel coating the whole inside anyways. Needs poly, odds are the gel coat also needs but some do run roads and boulders more than others.
If you can get away with reusing the major flat portion holes for new poly, filling holes can be cut down to 60-70% less work.
It also involves jacking the hull and a good creeper to tape the bottom side before you put new poly on.
Multiple flips can be avoided with correct planning, and not much worse than a brand new poly/gel coat job that leaks, unless someone else runs into you on it's maiden voyage? That really SUCKS after all that work!
 
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