Pulled Fiberglass

[Jerome]

I've begun the repair of a portion of my rubrail on my Typhoon. Several of the screws holding the rail are no longer gripping the fiberglass due to a past collision with a dock. One of the screws, however, is still in the fiberglass but has pulled it out of shape, creating a bulge.

Here's what I plan to do: take off the rub and toe rails, sand the bulge smooth and flush with the hull, fill any cracks or openings with a fiberglass repair kit, sand once more, and replace the rails. Does this sound right, or am I missing a step?

This is my first boat, and I don't want to mess it up. Your advice is appreciated.

Jerome
IO



Jbasma@aol.com

[Bill Sandifer]

I've begun the repair of a portion of my rubrail on my Typhoon. Several of the screws holding the rail are no longer gripping the fiberglass due to a past collision with a dock. One of the screws, however, is still in the fiberglass but has pulled it out of shape, creating a bulge.

Here's what I plan to do: take off the rub and toe rails, sand the bulge smooth and flush with the hull, fill any cracks or openings with a fiberglass repair kit, sand once more, and replace the rails. Does this sound right, or am I missing a step?

This is my first boat, and I don't want to mess it up. Your advice is appreciated.

Jerome
IO

Sounds like you are doing fine so far. The only suggestion I have is to use Marine Tex, an epoxy filler rather than fiberglass repair kit. Any work I do on my boat I use epoxy rather than fiberglass resin as the epoxy is stronger, has longer working time, does not out gas and adheres to a well sanded fiberglass spot much better than the fiberglass resins. Check out the West System epoxy web site for additional information.