How to Use Epoxy for Boat Repair
Every year your boat, like every boat with a fiberglass hull, ends up with a gouge, a scratch or a crater that makes the side of your boat look like the face of the moon. Unless the damage has penetrated the core material of your boat over a large area, you can make the repair with marine epoxy and without fiberglass. The key to this type of repair is allowing the epoxy to cure fully.
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Things You'll Need
- Rags
- Acetone
- Palm sander
- 100-grit sandpaper
- Paper towels
- Drill
- Jiffy mixer
- Paint stirrer
- Small-blade putty knife
- 220-grit sandpaper.
Instructions
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1
Wipe the damaged area with a rag and acetone to remove dirt, grease and loose materials. If necessary, use a toothpick or other small implement to remove small particles, then wipe the area with acetone again.
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2
Sand the gouge or the crater with your palm sander and dry 100-grit sandpaper, until you get down to solid, undamaged material. Once you have sanded down to undamaged material, use mild soap and water to wash the area. Dry the area with paper towels or rags, then dampen a rag with acetone and wipe the area again to remove any sanding dust
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3
Mix the epoxy base with the hardener in small batches, four parts base to one part hardener. Mechanical mixing, like that done with a drill and a "jiffy mixer" attachment -- obtainable at most paint or hardware stores -- is best done at low speeds. You can also mix it by hand, using a paint stirrer. Once you start mixing the epoxy, your have about five minutes to put it on the boat.
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4
Trowel the epoxy into the damaged area with the small-blade putty knife, working it into the damaged area. Mix additional epoxy as needed and keep filling in the damaged area until a slight hump appears over the damage. Allow the repair to cure for 24 hours.
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5
Sand the repaired area with 220-grit sandpaper until the "hump" is level with the rest of the surface. Once again, wash the area, allow it to dry, then wipe with acetone one final time.
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Tips & Warnings
After you have completed the area repair, the repairs can be covered with paint or gelcoat.
This project requires working with volatile chemicals that should be used in a well-ventilated area. All precautions recommended by the manufacturers should be observed.
