Fiberglass repair help

[Markst95]

I'm starting work on my Typhoon hatch and want to reenforce the bottom edge that rides on the cabintop. Its cracked(see pic). I want to wrap fiberglass cloth around it but from previous experience it won't stay in place long enough to dry. I was thinking of wrapping it in peel ply and clamping it but wondered if anyone has another way to get it to stay until it sets.

[bhartley]

To keep the fiberglass tape in place (I would use tape to avoid frayed edges...), apply a sheet of wax paper and then use a batten of some type (i used a thin piece of wood) over it and clamp it in place. The battens will help keep the surface smooth and even which will speed the finishing process.

You have to sand lightly and wash with soapy water to remove the amine blush anyway. I did not have any problems with wax residue. My results were very satisfactory. Once painted you couldn't ever tell that the cracks had been there and it was substantially stronger.

[Oswego John]

Hi Mark,

How old are you? Maybe old enough to remember what was used to wrap lunch sandwiches to keep them fresh? The stuff they used is called wax paper. BTW, it's still available in supermarkets. I still use a roll for work that must be over ten years old or more. It is called "Cut Rite" and has a serrated edge to tear it off.

You could try to clean and then goop up the damaged area with either polyester or epoxy. Then apply a premeasured and precut membrane of fiberglass tape or cloth. Topcoat the glass again with epoxy or poly. Wet it through.

Encase the repair area with wax paper. I lay a thin piece of wood or whatever on either side of the repair to maintain contact, to equalize pressure over the repair. If I don't find scrap wood to use,
I have used popsicle ice cream sticks. I hold everything in place with spring clips. For real thin repairs, I have used horse blanket, spring type, clothes pins.

Good luck,
O J

[Markst95]

I think I have an old roll of Cut rite around somewhere. I'm old enough to have forgotten I used wax paper before on a repair. Thanks for reminding me!

[Markst95]

Thanks for the help. I figured I'd start on the Cockpit hatch covers first.

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[Oswego John]

By George, I think ee's got it. Yes, ee has got it. Ee's definitely got it.

I think I'll be getting married in the morning, ding dong the bells are going to chime - - - (foisted from Pygmalion per Eliza)

One picture is worth at least 1017 words, by Jove. Sometimes more. Looking good.

Good luck,
O J

[John Vigor]

'Ere, OJ, wot's goin' on? Bit early in the day for such 'appy spirits innit? 'Ave you been at the mild-and-bitter again or is it the joys of spring wot's got under yer skin?

Someone wot's able, lift up the table, and get 'im to the church on time.

John V.

[Oswego John]

Nay, John.

I fear it's the blinkin' long winter wots got me poor head like a bloomin' bowl of 'alf cooked figgy puddin'.

Me doctor says take two pints of arf-n-arf an' ring him in the morning. Eh wot?

Cheerio,
O J

[Neil Gordon]

One picture is worth at least 1017 words, by Jove.

Is that just for Spanish pictures when it's raining? Is something going on with exchange rates for pictures vs. words? Did something happen at G-20 that I should know about?

[Oswego John]

Nay, John.

I fear it's the blinkin' long winter wots got me poor head like a bloomin' bowl of 'alf cooked figgy puddin'.

Me doctor says take two pints of arf-n-arf an' ring him in the morning. Eh wot?

Cheerio,
O J

[Marc Theriault]

Neil,

The big news for us in Canada about the G-20 is...Our Prime Minister was not on the official picture because i was too busy in the "can".

You know when you have to go, you have to go...

Marc

[Sea Hunt]

Mark, OJ, John, et al:

For those of us (probably just me ) who do not understand anything about fiberglass work (but want to), can someone explain - in simple American English words please - what is depicted in the photo that Mark posted

I see a wood rod/stick, what appears to be some wax paper, six (6) clamps and a board (possibly 1'x3' ).

I know this sounds stupid, but I AM stupid What is being done How is it being done

I am NOT embarrassed by asking these questions. I am too stupid to be embarrassed.

P.S. I had a TERRIFIC sail Thursday on a friends O'Day 35. 18-20 kts SSW. Sailed about 4 hours. Raced on Harbor 20 today; 3 races; 10-12 kts SW. At the helm 1st race; came in 1st. Not often, but sometimes, dumb luck wins.

[jbenagh]

Also, clear plastic packing tape works nicely for epoxy work. Nice for covering small holes.

Regarding amine blush, there is none if the epoxy is covered while it cures. So, cover up and save a wash!

Jeff

[Oswego John]

can someone explain - in simple American English words please - what is depicted in the photo that Mark posted

I see a wood rod/stick, what appears to be some wax paper, six (6) clamps and a board (possibly 1'x3' ).

I know this sounds stupid, but I AM stupid What is being done How is it being done


P.S. I had a TERRIFIC sail Thursday on a friends O'Day 35. 18-20 kts SSW. Sailed about 4 hours. Raced on Harbor 20 today; 3 races; 10-12 kts SW. At the helm 1st race; came in 1st. Not often, but sometimes, dumb luck wins.

Robert,

You really know how to hurt a guy. Have you no compassion as to what the northern sailing brethern are experiencing with todays weather. Here, in God's country, we are being tested and/or inured with half rain, half snow. The temperature today went up as high as 38° F with wind gusting to 65 mph. As for a cherry on top of the dessert, the sustained high winds caused trees and huge limbs to fall on power lines. Many have no power at this time. The lake is as a boiling cauldron with waves splashing to the top of the harbour lighthouse. Upland parts of Oswego County have up to 8" of snow, already.

Is a little of my envy peeking through?

Now, about that fiberglass project:

If you scroll back to Mark's original thread post, you will find a picture of his boat's sliding hatch cover. The lip of the cover is cracked and is missing some pieces that have broken off. Mark's intent is to repair the lip to its original condition.

If he wanted to, he could just add filler to the missing portions. That would only make the lip aesthetically acceptable. What Mark intends to do is beef up the damaged area by using a membrane of fiberglass tape.

When you wet down the area to be repaired and apply the fiberglass tape, the wetted tape must make and *MAINTAIN* positive contact with the area being repaired. In certain instances, it seems that the folded glass tape has a memory and tends to lift away from the area being repaired. Ideally, we are looking for a method to maintain contact of the tape with the damaged area.

The thought is to provide constant pressure on the tape to prevent it from lifting before the epoxy/poly sets. The method to be used must not allow clamps, splints, whatever, to be stuck to the tape after it hardens.

Very little will adhere to a waxed surface. What Bly and I have suggested is to place a layer of waxed paper between the epoxyed/polyed tape and that which is maintaining pressure for total contact.

Rather than having contact only in the area of the spring clamps, Mark placed paint stirrers under the clamps along the entire length of both sides of the repair to ensure contact of 100% of the repair.

BTW, congratulations on being the winning helmsman of the race.

Best regards,
O J

[Markst95]

Yea- what he said...