Hello all. I just bought this boat over Thanksgiving week 2021. Since then I've been working on updating some maintenance issues and while working on it today I saw this. It's a fairly deep chip in the hull on the bottom of the boat. It's a 2004 200 select. The location of this is about directly below the engine compartment. No leaks, everything is watertight but needing advice as to the best way to go about repairing this. Thanks in advance.
Chip in hull, need advice.
- Thread starter Joshk707
- Start date
sbw1
Well-Known Member
- Oct 10, 2006
- 8,189
- Boat Info
- This is listed in my signature
- Engines
- This is listed in my signature
Use a Dremel tool to clean it up to solid glass and fill it with West System epoxy. Sort of like drilling and filling a tooth.
As SBW1 suggests, clean out the spot well and undercut the edge a little. Rinse out with acetone. Let dry. West System is great but a very thick putty is better for this job.
Mix up enough Marinetex white epoxy putty or similar product, then pack it firmly into the defect. Use a piece of heavy wire or similar tool to stir it around the edges and down into the base fiberglass for a good bond. Now, smooth the putty close to the hull contour. Then, stretch a piece of saran film over the putty, smoothing it to eliminate bubbles and tape the edges tight. When set, you will have a good repair with a nice finish and little sanding.
Mix up enough Marinetex white epoxy putty or similar product, then pack it firmly into the defect. Use a piece of heavy wire or similar tool to stir it around the edges and down into the base fiberglass for a good bond. Now, smooth the putty close to the hull contour. Then, stretch a piece of saran film over the putty, smoothing it to eliminate bubbles and tape the edges tight. When set, you will have a good repair with a nice finish and little sanding.
Looks like an air void. One thing that you'll need to be ready for is the "hole" is going to get at least twice as big. As noted, you have to keep to grinding away till you get to solid glass and solid glass:gel. If you stop short of that, the repair will open back up again. It's 100% fixable - but don't skimp.
