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If you’re unlucky enough to have a drilled hole in your fiberglass boat, don’t worry – there is a way to fix it. You’ll need some basic supplies and tools, and the steps are not too difficult. Just be careful not to make the problem worse!
Here are the items that you’ll need:
- Fiberglass resin
- Glass mat or fiberglass cloth
- A drill with a bit the same size as your repair kit’s drill bit (typically 1/8″)
- A masking tape
Here are the steps involved:
Step 1: Clean out the hole to make sure there isn’t any debris leftover from how the hole got there.
Step 2: Apply masking tape over the hole and around it for about 8 inches. The masking tape will keep the resin from getting into places that you don’t want it to go and will make the repair much more professional-looking.
Step 3: If there is any loose glass on your boat, remove it with a putty knife or another tool. If broken glass is still in the hole, use a drill with a wire brush attachment to get rid of it.
Step 4: Fill the drilled hole and any cracks or gaps around it with fiberglass resin using a putty knife. It’s best to just fill it up all the way so that there aren’t any holes left for water to get in through. If the drilled hole is large, add another layer of fiberglass cloth and resin on top of it before letting it set.
Step 5: Once the resin has dried, remove the masking tape and sand off any rough spots with a sander or sandpaper. It’s best to keep going until you’ve gotten rid of any drips or bumps, but be careful to not sand away too much of the fiberglass.
Step 6: Once you are satisfied with how smooth it’s looking, paint over it with a coat of fiberglass primer and let that dry for about 2 days.
Step 7: Add another coat of primer after letting the first one dry overnight. Let the second coat dry for about 3 days before painting over it with fiberglass paint if you want it to be invisible. If that’s not how you want your repaired hole to look, then consider adding some kind of other decoration over the top of it.
If you’re careful, follow all of this advice, and are patient enough to wait for the resin to dry, you should have a perfectly repaired hole in your boat. Don’t rush anything and you’ll end up with a solid fix that looks good.
If the repair didn’t work out how it was supposed to, or if you accidentally made the drilled hole worse when trying to fix it, then try filling in larger holes with a two-part polyester filler.
These products usually come with fiberglass cloth, but if you want to use another brand you can easily mix it in yourself by cutting your own pieces of glass mat or cloth and adding them into the filler product before mixing it together.
FAQ’s
How big of a hole can I repair?
You should only be using fiberglass resin and a glass mat or cloth on holes that are no more than 1/2″ wide. Anything bigger than that would require a different method of repair, such as a larger filler or surface replacement.
Should I fix it myself or hire a professional?
This will depend on how much experience you have with fixing fiberglass boats and how large the area needing repair is. If you’re less experienced or if it’s a very large hole that needs to be filled, then it would be best to hire a professional for this task.
How much does it cost to get a hole in fiberglass repaired professionally?
This will depend on how large the repair is and how much experience your repairman has. You can expect to pay anywhere from $200-500 for a simple drilled hole repair, depending on how big it is. A more complicated job may cost up to $1000+ in some cases.
How much does it cost to fix it myself?
If you already have all the required materials and tools, then this will not cost you anything. If you don’t, then there may be some costs that you should include such as how much resin or how many fiberglass cloths you’ll need to buy.
Can I use epoxy for the repair?
Some people have had success using epoxy instead of fiberglass resin, but it’s best to use fiberglass resin. Because epoxy is harder than how the rest of your boat may be, you run the risk of creating even more problems for yourself by not dealing with them correctly.
There are also polyester fillers available which only require you to mix them with a hardener instead of using resin.
What is a fiberglass cloth?
Fiberglass cloth is simply a sheet of fiberglass that has been woven together to make it thicker and stronger. It can be used for repairs, or it can be used to add strength without adding thickness by gluing it directly onto the boat.
What is a glass mat?
A glass mat is simply another name for fiberglass cloth, but the term “glass mat” is usually not used to describe how thick or how strong the material is.
What are epoxy fillers?
Epoxy fillers are two-part products that come with resin and hardener already mixed together, so you just have to add one more ingredient: glass mat or fiberglass cloth before it’s ready to be used.
There you have it, a simple guide to repairing drilled holes in fiberglass boats. Hopefully, it’s been of help to you and you can get back on the water ASAP!
Remember: it’s important not to rush anything when repairing these types of issues so that they may end up being worse than they were originally!
