How to Repair a Hole in Your Fiberglass Boat or RV

How to Repair a Hole in Your Fiberglass Boat or RV

If you're a boat owner, then you know that fixing holes in your fiberglass boat is one of the most common problems you'll face. Whether it's from normal wear and tear or accidental damage, sooner or later, you'll have to patch up a hole in your boat. But don't worry, it's not as difficult as it sounds. With some help from True Composites, your boat will look good as new in no time.

What You'll Need-

You'll first need to gather all the materials you'll need for the repair. This includes our fiberglass resin, fiberglass matting, gelcoat, sandpaper, and a putty knife. You can find all of these materials on our website. Once you have everything you need, you can start the repair process.

Step 1: Clean the Area Around the Hole The first step is to clean the area around the hole with acetone or another similar solvent. This will help ensure that the fiberglass resin bonds properly with the hull's surface.

Step 2: Cut a Piece of Fiberglass Matting to Fit the Hole Once the area is clean, cut a piece of fiberglass matting to fit the hole snugly. Make sure that there are no gaps around the edges of the matting; if there are, the repair will be weaker and more likely to fail.

Step 3: Mix the Fiberglass Resin According to instructions, mix an appropriate amount of fiberglass resin and hardener. Once mixed, apply the resin to both sides of the matting using a putty knife. Ensure every square inch is covered; otherwise, the patch will be weak and won't hold up over time. Allow enough time for the resin to cure before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Sand Down Excess Resin After the resin has had time to cure, use sandpaper to sand down any excess resin that may be protruding from the hull's surface. Be careful not to sand too much; you don't want to remove any material from areas that don't need it. Just focus on removing any excess resin around the edges of your patch.

Step 5: Apply Gelcoat after everything has been sanded down and dried, cover your repair with some gelcoat. We recommend a waxed gelcoat for your final coat. You can also tint the color of the gelcoat using our polyester colorings dyes/pigments sold on our website. If done correctly, nobody will ever know that your boat once had a hole!

Purchase our gelcoat here

Purchase our Polyester Resin and Fiberglass here

Conclusion: Following these simple steps, you can quickly repair a hole in your fiberglass boat. With just a few items from True Composites, you'll have your boat back in action in no time. So next time you're faced with a damaged hull, don't panic. Just remember, True Composites has got you covered.