VENTURA 16: Repair of Keel Damage - Moderated Discussion Areas

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Author Topic:   VENTURA 16: Repair of Keel Damage

robertson39 posted 10-06-2014 11:28 AM ET (US)
Recently during a launch, my Ventura slide off the front roller (now replaced with a wider one) and landed square on the supporting bracket resulting in a nice scrape through the gel coat to the glass. My question is does this require a build up of epoxy/glass the gel-coat or just a rebuild with gel coat?
It can be seen at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/114053926@N06
Thanks,
Dale
jimh posted 10-06-2014 01:58 PM ET (US)
Boston Whaler factory instructions (reproduced verbatim) say to use the method called "Structural Repair." See
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/repairInstructions.html
Because this repair area is generally underwater, and because it will not be in an area where a perfect cosmetic match of the finish color and luster to adjacent areas will be necessary, I would undertake the repair using epoxy resin. I prefer epoxy for a repair like this because, compared to polyester resins or gel coat resins:
--there is generally NEVER any problem with getting a solid, hard air cure of the epoxy resin in small batch volumes;
--epoxy resin is a stronger adhesive and will make a better secondary bond;
--epoxy is more waterproof than gel coat resins
--there is little exposure to ultraviolet light for this area, so not much to worry about with epoxy color shifting with exposure to the sun.
I would purchase a small repair kit from West System Epoxy. Their kits contain all the materials needed for the repair. The kits only cost about $30. You will have resin, filler, cloth, and other material left over for the next repair.
The color match of the repair to the existing hull can be helped if the epoxy resin in tinted white with an appropriate tinting agent. You can also top coat the epoxy repair with color-matched gel coat resin to get better cosmetic appearance. Top coating epoxy with polyester resins is possible; one just needs to follow the instructions for post curing and washing the epoxy surface to prepare it for top coat with polyester resin.
The most important aspect of this repair: let the damaged area completely dry out. No resins can form a strong bond with wet fiberglass and water-soaked foam.
Plotman posted 10-06-2014 03:29 PM ET (US)
Looking at the picture, I would tend to disagree with JimH.
It appears to me to be a nasty ding to the gelcoat, but it does not appear that you have damaged the underlying structure.
I would think you could fix that damage with some of what spectrum sells as their gelcoat patch paste.
Or, better yet, get some gelcoat and make your own by adding West System microballons. Build it up, sand it down, and then get one of the $7 preval sprayers and spray on a couple of top coats to finish off.
Finish off wetsanding, and you will likely never know you had the boo boo.
One of the best things about doing this kind of work is that you can always sand off and start over if you dont like the results.
jimh posted 10-06-2014 09:43 PM ET (US)
No, no--it is not I that recommends the repair procedure called "Structural Repair." It is Boston Whaler. Any "puncture" larger than a dime is their criterion. Read their repair instructions.
robertson39 posted 10-07-2014 04:26 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the inputs. I just ordered the West kit and will tackle it in the spring (with some pictures too).

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Author	Topic: VENTURA 16: Repair of Keel Damage
robertson39	posted 10-06-2014 11:28 AM ET (US) Recently during a launch, my Ventura slide off the front roller (now replaced with a wider one) and landed square on the supporting bracket resulting in a nice scrape through the gel coat to the glass. My question is does this require a build up of epoxy/glass the gel-coat or just a rebuild with gel coat? It can be seen at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/114053926@N06 Thanks, Dale
jimh	posted 10-06-2014 01:58 PM ET (US) Boston Whaler factory instructions (reproduced verbatim) say to use the method called "Structural Repair." See http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/repairInstructions.html Because this repair area is generally underwater, and because it will not be in an area where a perfect cosmetic match of the finish color and luster to adjacent areas will be necessary, I would undertake the repair using epoxy resin. I prefer epoxy for a repair like this because, compared to polyester resins or gel coat resins: --there is generally NEVER any problem with getting a solid, hard air cure of the epoxy resin in small batch volumes; --epoxy resin is a stronger adhesive and will make a better secondary bond; --epoxy is more waterproof than gel coat resins --there is little exposure to ultraviolet light for this area, so not much to worry about with epoxy color shifting with exposure to the sun. I would purchase a small repair kit from West System Epoxy. Their kits contain all the materials needed for the repair. The kits only cost about $30. You will have resin, filler, cloth, and other material left over for the next repair. The color match of the repair to the existing hull can be helped if the epoxy resin in tinted white with an appropriate tinting agent. You can also top coat the epoxy repair with color-matched gel coat resin to get better cosmetic appearance. Top coating epoxy with polyester resins is possible; one just needs to follow the instructions for post curing and washing the epoxy surface to prepare it for top coat with polyester resin. The most important aspect of this repair: let the damaged area completely dry out. No resins can form a strong bond with wet fiberglass and water-soaked foam.
Plotman	posted 10-06-2014 03:29 PM ET (US) Looking at the picture, I would tend to disagree with JimH. It appears to me to be a nasty ding to the gelcoat, but it does not appear that you have damaged the underlying structure. I would think you could fix that damage with some of what spectrum sells as their gelcoat patch paste. Or, better yet, get some gelcoat and make your own by adding West System microballons. Build it up, sand it down, and then get one of the $7 preval sprayers and spray on a couple of top coats to finish off. Finish off wetsanding, and you will likely never know you had the boo boo. One of the best things about doing this kind of work is that you can always sand off and start over if you dont like the results.
jimh	posted 10-06-2014 09:43 PM ET (US) No, no--it is not I that recommends the repair procedure called "Structural Repair." It is Boston Whaler. Any "puncture" larger than a dime is their criterion. Read their repair instructions.
robertson39	posted 10-07-2014 04:26 PM ET (US) Thanks for the inputs. I just ordered the West kit and will tackle it in the spring (with some pictures too).