Restoring 1972, fiberglass rowboat, Question on resin.

[Mick Grochowski]

Restoring a 1972, MFG fiberglass rowboat. The hull is it pretty good condition, but I did notice minor cracking and some flaking of the surface. My planned approach is to sand overall first. Then, after cleaning and removing loose material and dust. apply a coat of penetrating epoxy to saturate and bond loose fiberglass and hairline cracks. Next, after fairing and filling larger areas, will sand/scuff surface for painting. Any thoughts or recommendations. Thanks.

 

[bajansailor]

Welcome to the Forum Mick.
Can you post a photo (or two) please of the rowboat that you are restoring, to show us the minor cracking and flaking on the surface?
I am not convinced that you need to apply a coat of penetrating epoxy first - but you mention 'fairing and filling larger areas' - how large and deep are these areas?

 

[Mick Grochowski]

Welcome to the Forum Mick.
Can you post a photo (or two) please of the rowboat that you are restoring, to show us the minor cracking and flaking on the surface?
I am not convinced that you need to apply a coat of penetrating epoxy first - but you mention 'fairing and filling larger areas' - how large and deep are these areas?

Thanks for the response. The boat is en-route and will be available for photos this weekend. Will post photos then.

 

[ondarvr]

Penetrating epoxy isn't a good product for much of anything, so scratch it off the list.

You need to grind the surface thoroughly and glass over any areas that require it. The type of resin you choose for this won't make much of a difference.

But we really need to see those pics before any good recommendations can be made.

 

[Mick Grochowski]

Will post photos this weekend.
Thanks for the input.

 

[fallguy]

Most likely the boat has a gelcoat on it. Which means NOT epoxy.

Also, avoid sanding. It may be too much.

ondarvr is really a great help for you on the subject; you are fortunate he responded and get his response after pictures before proceeding

 

[DCockey]

Most likely the boat has a gelcoat on it. Which means NOT epoxy.

??????
Are you claiming epoxy does not bond to epoxy?

 

[fallguy]

??????
Are you claiming epoxy does not bond to epoxy?

of course not!!!!!

but you don't fix a gelcoat issue with smith's cpes!!!!!

 

[Blueknarr]

of course not!!!!!

but you don't fix a gelcoat issue with smith's cpes!!!!!

Nothing is ever fixed with penetrating epoxy.

Aside from that a 72 issue vessel is far more likely to be poly than epoxy.

 

[Mick Grochowski]

Welcome to the Forum Mick.
Can you post a photo (or two) please of the rowboat that you are restoring, to show us the minor cracking and flaking on the surface?
I am not convinced that you need to apply a coat of penetrating epoxy first - but you mention 'fairing and filling larger areas' - how large and deep are these areas?

Photos attached. After taking a closer look, the hull is more solid than I originally thought. It appears that the flaking and spider cracks are
mainly in the gel coat. It seems the loose stuff can be scraped off, but then how much grinding and sanding do we do? What's recommended to fill the voids and low spots? Then what is the best option for paint, assuming a limited budget and value of the boat? Thanks for any help.

 

[ondarvr]

It looks like someone did a terrible job of repainting it with something, could be gel coat.

Original gel coat doesn't typically peel off like that, and neither does reapplied gel coat unless you do a miserable job.

 

[bajansailor]

Mick, I think you need to just start sanding - not too viciously, be gentle at first - and see what happens.

Re the voids and low spots, do these really stand out? How big are the voids?

Re paint, I have used two pack acrylic car paint on the dinghies I have been involved with, and that has worked well.
You could use 'ordinary' one pack enamel paint, but I doubt that it will be as hard wearing.

 

[Mick Grochowski]

Mick, I think you need to just start sanding - not too viciously, be gentle at first - and see what happens.

Re the voids and low spots, do these really stand out? How big are the voids?

Re paint, I have used two pack acrylic car paint on the dinghies I have been involved with, and that has worked well.
You could use 'ordinary' one pack enamel paint, but I doubt that it will be as hard wearing.

Thanks for the tips. Will start by scraping flaky sections, trying to get the loose chips off. then sand overall. Perhaps a bit of fairing in places that look too bad to paint over.