The Boating Forum - Hull repair question?

Hello I have a 30ft. CC that I trailer. The trailer has worn off the paint/gelcoat off to where I see the fiberglass. It apparently happens when I launch and load the boat. The area is only where the trailer touches the hull. It looks like the glass is smooth not fuzzy and not damaged. And runs along the keel to the transom around a 1/2 inch wide where the trailer touches.
I looked in the archives and didn't find anything on this subject. I would think trailering boats this would happen a lot? But I'm know expert on fiberglass that's for sure.
So I asked some boating friends and get a lot of different answers. One said to put marine tex on it? One said to put gelcoat on it. And one said just to paint the area with good bottom paint?
I suspect what ever I put on it will come off again in time because of the trailer. But what's the best easiest way to protect the open fiberglass that might last the longest?

Pat

I would repair the damage with gelcoat, sounds like you have a spot on the trailer wearing this away. Fix the trailer or your repair will be in vain. Marine Tex is not a replacement for your gelcoat, your gelcoat seals the fiber glass helping to retain your water resistance. Good luck.

Mako 251 http://members.fishingworks.com/Rman/index.cfm

you need to find Ringleader he redid his keel area twice with new Gelcoat .... question is what's causeing it to "wear off ? "....http://www.classicmako.com/projects/ed_ring/mako_project3.htm
there is your link ....Happy reading ...lol.......Good luck ...John

http://tht.sunfx.net/jtburf/22.JPG
Triton 2200CC, Honda BF200,

I'd just get the closest matching paint I could find and have at it. It's not like you're going to solve the problem, or even that there really is a problem, its just wear and tear. So that's why I'd just paint it and next year I'd probably be back painting it again and meantime I'd be watching to see how others dealt with it, but I wouldn't worry about it much.

That's sort of how I dealt with mine. I had patched it a few times and towards the end I just mixed up a glob of heaily thickened epoxy (mixed with West Systems 403 High density adhesive/filler) and filled it after a quick hit with the grinder and a wash with acetone. I only sanded it down to the 80 grit level and went ahead and painted it with Awl Grip's 545 primer.

Awl Grip also makes a white barrier coat paint that you can use. I called them and specifically asked if I could use it as a bottom paint for a trailered boat that was getting everything above the waterline painted anyway. I told him that I had made numerous small repairs and just wanted to coat it with something that looked nice but would stay on there. I didn't want conventional bottom paint. He said that they of course could not recommend that I use the barrier coat that way but that indeed he knew of many many cases where it had in fact been used exactly that way and from what he had heard it was holding up beautifully. Anyway, I haven't used it yet but you can bet there will be a couple of quarts headed this way before May.

Thom

A Wise Man Once Said: "That's EXACTLY why I try NOT to read manuals, I start trying all sorts of stupid things and wasting all sorts of time when I read manuals...."

I checked the trailer and everywhere the boat touches it. Everything looks good there are no places worn on the trailer that would cause this.
I believe it's a where and tear problem as Thom say's. The hull is a 1991 and I guess I should expect something by now? I am just worried about the bare fiberglass. I was told that water could soak into it and cause further damage?
If I paint or gelcoat it whats the differnce? As long as the glass is covered? I really don't know.

Pat

Marine Tex would work fine for keeping out any water intrusion but is very thick like a putty and would be VERY difficult if the area you are talking about is more than a couple square inches. Gelcoat is thinner but is also pretty hard to work with unless you have spray equitment and some experience. It is also hard to match colors exactly, usually requires mixing with certain pigments, even if it is white - there are many shades of white. Traditional bottom paint will do nothing to prevent water intrusion, it's job id a biocide to prevent growth on boats that are kept in slips. Painting using any good epoxy including the barrier coat Thom suggests is your best option. Matching the color exactly will be tought here also and may need mixing with pigments as with gelcoat.

Thom, is this the paint your talking about? It sounds like primer? Do I have to paint over it with something? And how do I prep the surface before applying this? Or is there a manual for this? I have been looking online for an hour or so on this and can't find any info on what I need to do to apply this barrier paint or is it primer? Where can I find a step by step approach to this project? Sanding prepping spray, roll or brush this stuff? Thinning mixing? And what ever?

http://www.cyber-marine.com/bridges/10199.html

Pat

*

That's the stuff, but you can get it cheaper.

Go to Awl Grip's site and prepare for a long wait while their application guide loads up (its hugh). It will tell you everything you need to know and more.

Basically I'd just use a small roller to apply it, after all this is under the boat stuff. In my application I'm going to paint the entire bottom with it right up to the water line so I have a consistant finish. Please keep in mind that over the years not only have I repaired these keel-line scrapes, but a lot of other bumps and and chunks too, not to mention a few thru hull that have been removed and the holes glassed back over. In the past I've just touched up these spots with spray paint but I figgered as long as I was taking care of the rest of the hull that I might as well get the bottom right this time too, that's the only reason I'm doing, cosmetics. For a trailered boat that gets dipped and then drys out on the trailer I would not be worried for a second about the glass soaking up water. Its true that polyester resin will do that, but not enough in a day or two to make any difference. So for a trailered boat unless the sight of it bothers you I would not worry about it at all.

Thom

Thom

A Wise Man Once Said: "That's EXACTLY why I try NOT to read manuals, I start trying all sorts of stupid things and wasting all sorts of time when I read manuals...."

US Marine or someone I can't remember the name, make a resin based paste the has gelcoat in it. I will try and dig mine out so I can give you the name.
Very easy to work with and you can not tell a patch was made once done.

Dean

Thanks for all the info. guys! That really takes the stress off. I was worried this was gonna be a major nightmare. Especially when someone told me the glass soaked up water.
Thanks again,

Pat

PGM18-

I take it you have a bunk trailer, right? Unfortunately, that is one of the downsides to using bunk trailers.....after much use....the bunks eventually wear away the gelcoat on the hull.

If I were you, I would spray gelcoat on the spots that have been worn off(be sure that you dewax and sand the repair area with 180 grit)and I would replace the carpeting on your bunks. Other than that, there is not much else you can do to prevent it, except maybe switch to a roller trailer.

Good luck.

Ed

Yes I have a bunker style trailer. But the damage is on the keel where the boat rides on the nylon guides when launching or loading. Not the bunkers. The bunkers support the hull perfectly and I wouldn't have any thing else. Especially rollers that will damage the hull with pressure spots.

Pat