Boat owners mainly get frustrated by the inevitable chips and cracks in their fiberglass boats. They are sometimes difficult and expensive to repair, which makes owners leave the damage as it is or fix it themselves. In the process, there are several common blunders they are likely to make during repairs.

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• Using Resins that Shrinks and Does Not Stick

 

It is not easy to find gel coat repair resins with a structural grade adhesion, a significant issue that even most repairers face. You can spend hours repairing the boat, and a few weeks later, when you take it out, the repair falls off, and you have to start all over again. The gel coat solution to use should have the capacity to bond with glass fiber, metal, wood, and glass for an effective fiberglass repair.

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• Failing to Let Resins Shrink

 

Most resins can shrink by as much as 8%. It causes stress on the joints and can even cause the appearance of further stress cracks. The damage shows a noticeable slump, which requires multiple coats over several weeks.

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• The Inaccurate Blending of Multi-part Resins

 

In any fiberglass repair, the multi-part resins need precise quantity mixing to achieve minimum shrinkage, maximum durability, flexibility, and maximum adhesion. It is one of the main reasons boat owners experience issues like the popping out of repairs.

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Many websites recommend the use of the traditional method of fiberglass repair. This solution requires a long grocery list. It is quite costly, messy, prone to error, and the repair does not last.

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Carbon fiber, another versatile material for building ship's bodies, is more durable than fiberglass. Carbon fiber manufacturing will overtake fiberglass very soon since it has no health issues. Instead of adding more damage to a fiberglass boat, it is best to consider seeking help from experienced professionals.