Repairing Hole in Fiberglass

[geoffc210]

The top snap to the fabric wind block came out (in the fiberglass - "male" snap). What can I use to fill in the hole and screw the snap back in?

2003 SANTE

[Andrew]

RE: Repairing Hole in Fiberglass

fiberglass resin, bondo, fiberglass jelly. just about any kind of body filler will do, u only need to get the hole flush with the rest of the area and add paint and a screw.

how big is this hole?

[geoffc210]

RE: Repairing Hole in Fiberglass

The hole is probably pencil sized, maybe a little smaller. Would I have to paint it? I am going to screw the snap back in after I fill the hole. What will hold the snap in place and not come out? Will I need to block off the back side of the hole (that might be tough to do)? What level of difficulty are we talking here?

[SGY]

RE: Repairing Hole in Fiberglass

I'm not sure I'm following. Where's the hole? If it is in the gelcoat, then you don't want to paint it. Call CC and get the gelcoat that matches your hull/deck color.

[geoffc210]

RE: Repairing Hole in Fiberglass

The hole is in the bow walk through. My boat has the fabric wind screen that snaps into the fiberglass splitting the bow area from the main section. The top starboard snap has been pulled out of the fiberglass leaving behind a small hole. I need to fill the hole with something and screw the snap back in.

[ag4ever]

RE: Repairing Hole in Fiberglass

If the hole would be under the snap when reinstalled, I wold just go to the hardware store, get a tube of 30 minute epoxy, and mix a small amount. (I would personally add a thicking agent such as talcum powder.) Then fill the hole being very carefull not to get any epoxy elsewhere. (Tape around the hole might be a smart idea.) Then after it cures, drill the hole so it is just bigger than the shaft portion of the screw (or the size of the screw without the threads). Then screw the snap back in. No painting required, unless the hole is bigger than the base of the snap. Then you will need to fill the hole, grind down the top a little, and get a gell coat repair kit. That is where I take it to a pro, because matching colors is an art. White is NOT white, and black is NOT black.

[geoffc210]

The snap will cover up the hole, but there isn't much room for error when drilling. If the new hole is off center at all than the snap might not cover. I will try and post pics, but this fix might be best off to the pros.

[Mikeski]

You can epoxy a wood dowel in the hole like we do with slalom skis?

[Andrew]

if, u accidentally drill off-center, just fill in that hole with the epoxy (or whatever u use) and try drillin again.

[Rick]

I second the small wooden down being epoxyed in. The epoxy will hold it in and the wood will provide a base for the screw to bight.

[noti_dad]

Can you use a small bolt & nut combo?

[Andrew]

theres and idea. drill a small hole through the snap insert a small bolt and use a large flat washer and nut under the hull

[DavidF]

Customary way to repair stripped screw holes in fiberglass composite is to use epoxy resin staturated open cell foam rubber. You simply poke the saturated foam rubber into the hole using a blunt toothpick. Push the foam into the hole deep enough so that it will expand on the back side and lock itself in once the resin hardens. After it cures, sand the top side flush and drill for new screw. Think of it as a foam rubber rivet.

[geoffc210]

I think I might want to leave this to the pros - This is too nice of a boat for me to screw up on.