Veloven9154 wrote:Q2: [using the four types of damage as defined in the Boston Whaler factory repair instructions] what type of repair is needed for the keel damage as seen in Figure 1?
Judging the damage to the hull from the photograph in Figure 1 is difficult due to the small image size, poor lighting, soft focus, and low resolution.
Generally any damage which involves the gel coat layer of the hull being torn away or punctured should be repaired, but the size of the damage and the loss of structural integrity must be considered. The damage seen in Figure 1 may best be repaired using the
method described by Boston Whaler for small area structural damage. For this particular repair I would use epoxy resin thickened with high-density filler in preference to laminating polyester resins.
Depending on the depth of the penetration of the damage, use of some fiberglass cloth or mat may be needed. Again, due to the small image an assessment of the exact method is hard to make.
Because this area of the hull will always be below the water line, epoxy resin will give you a better repair due to its better water resistance, higher strength in making secondary bonds to fully cured polyester resins, and better curing properties. Epoxy resin can be tinted to give a color match to the hull gel coat. Unless you are very concerned about creating an invisible color-matched repair, I would not bother to apply a top coat of gel coat resin, as no one will see this part of the hull except when the boat is on the trailer. Further, the hull looks like it has been bottom painted, so there is really no need to get a color-match on the repair.
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