bondo boatbuilding

[tugboat]

I had an idea that might bring back an older ferro-cement idea but with a new twist...what if I took an frp hull mold covered it in the way a ferro-cement hull would be covererd...that is- with steel rods and chicken wire or wire mesh...then apply bondo-glass..which is a small chopped strand filler...trowel it off!! done! very inexpensive to do and the fairing would simply be using fine sandpaper, the art would be in the fairing by eye process...this should work..why has not anyone tried it???

[Jimbo1490]

...this should work..why has not anyone tried it???

Weak, heavy and expensive? Maybe some others can think of a few more reasons

Jimbo

[longliner45]

I just made a repair on my boat ,,2 by 2ft hull damage. I used a piece of marine mahogony plywood , then filled the seam with bondo with hair,into the crevase and covered it with tape and epoxie ,, on the inside of the hull . I put in 3 new stringers and epoxied them as well .I think this is the strongest point on the boat ,,but also different from using it as a primary material ,,I think it has its uses,,also going to use it on the lead and seal it up ,,,,,,to achieve a totally dry bildge,,to seal the bolts,,,,,longliner

[fiberglass jack]

long strand bondo or short strand bondo is weak, and will soak in water then your steel will rust, they also sell a product called strucual fiberglass paste this to is week , it sounds good but wont be strong enough, good for a repair on a car but made for marine

[marshmat]

Originally Posted by tugboat

I had an idea that might bring back an older ferro-cement idea but with a new twist...what if I took an frp hull mold covered it in the way a ferro-cement hull would be covererd...that is- with steel rods and chicken wire or wire mesh...then apply bondo-glass..which is a small chopped strand filler...trowel it off!! done! very inexpensive to do and the fairing would simply be using fine sandpaper, the art would be in the fairing by eye process...this should work..why has not anyone tried it???

Because it would fall apart.
Bondo is an auto body filler. In water, it sucks big time. Plus it has very little strength in any mode other than pure compression. It would simply soak up water and disintegrate.

[glassr]

tugboat,
Don't use bondo on your boat period! It isn't even that good on autos.
And don't use it as a filler either,because it doesn't last.
It will crack on you even if the slightest stress is applied to it.