Tips For Boating: Don’t Rush A Fiberglass Repair Or Touch-Up Paint Job
Published: Friday, January 4, 2019
By: Capt. Fred Davis
Too often boat owners think a chip, scratch, or crack can be easily repaired. They buy a can of spray paint or a fiberglass filler kit and sometimes make a small blemish much worse. By the time they have spent an afternoon trying to cover a small spot with a rushed job, the results turn into a major job. It’s a better idea to step back, give the situation some thought, and go about it with consideration for the end result.
To begin a fiberglass repair, be sure to blend a patch color on a test area on the boat to determine color match. Additionally, when repairing a chip, deep scratch, or gouge, cautiously water sand the area to be covered. Be certain you’ve removed any sharp scratches or edges. Regardless of the kind of repair, make sure to prepare the area by cleaning it with a strong product like alcohol or WD-40 to remove grease, oil, or stains from rollers. Wash away any cleaning materials from the area and dry thoroughly. The success of your repair will depend upon how well you prepare the surface you are working on; any dirt or stain material not removed could ruin the job.
Once you have selected the right color patch material and prepared the area, get a piece of wax paper or cellophane that is larger than the patch area ready to apply. Place the patch material on the area but be cautious not to use too much. When the damaged area is covered, place the wax paper or cellophane over the patch and gently smooth it out to remove any thick spots. Allow the repair area to dry completely. When dry, remove the paper gently and you should see an overall smooth, matching repair.
If you are just making a paint touch-up, be certain you have selected matching paint. If working outside, it’s best to wait for a day without wind or locate an area to work in which is protected. Clean the surface well, sand it if necessary, and place paper well outside the area to be painted to catch any overspray. Be careful NOT to overspray the paper!
Once the area is totally dry, carefully remove the overspray-catching paper and very lightly water sand, if needed. Slowly and gently polish, if desirable. When making glass repairs or painting, it’s easier to spray additionally after the area dries than it is to remove excess paint… that becomes a whole new job.
Capt. Fred Davis is a retired charter captain and nationally published author of boating articles. His “Boat Smart” articles are published online at www.tipsforboating.com.
This article first appeared in the Year End Issue (Nov/Dec) 2018 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Do It Yourself (DIY), Paint, Service & Repair
