What You'll Need
To repair broken fiberglass, you'll need a palm sander and sandpaper, both coarse and fine, epoxy resin, colloidal silica--a thickener for thin epoxy resins--and a paint brush to apply the resin. You'll also need something to mix the resin in, a stirring stick from a paint store to stir the resin and safety glasses to protect your eyes.
The Procedure
Remove any damaged material that you can, then mix the colloidal silica into the resin until you have a paste about the thickness of peanut butter. Fill the damaged area with resin until the resin overflows the damaged area. Allow the resin to cure completely, then sand with 400-grit sandpaper and the palm sander until the patched surface is even with the boat's original surface.
Paint or Gel-Coat
Paint the repaired area. After the paint has cured, you can use polishing compound (found at automotive supply stores) to blend the painted area into the surrounding finish.
Article Written By Will Charpentier
Will Charpentier is a writer who specializes in boating and maritime subjects. A retired ship captain, Charpentier holds a doctorate in applied ocean science and engineering. He is also a certified marine technician and the author of a popular text on writing local history.
