I have an 03' skeeter zx225 that I just recently purchased. In between 2 strakes, at the rear of the boat, there is a chunk missing, aprox 1" x 1 1/4" in diameter. It is about a 1/4" deep, at the deepest point. Was wondering if anyone could explain how to repair it, and what materials/tools were needed?
You need to show some pictures, I myself dont understand what your talking about.. A picture is worth a 1000 words when it comes to this stuff
If it is on the bottom and between the strakes you can just clean the edges up and fill it with Marine Tex.....comes in white and grey..waterproof, bonds excellent to gelcoat and fiberglass....easy fix, spread it on smooth, light sand it when dy.
http://www.marinetex.com/PRODU...o.htm
you need to dry the area out really well. us heat lamp and dry the area for several hours or a couple days. make sure the lamp keep the area at 90degrees or less and that there is some air movment.
sand with 80 grit and clean with lacquer thinner or acetone only [ other thinner leave a film that effect bonding]. then fill the viod with marine tex cover with thin plastic using tape[ this holds everything in place].
if its gotten into the fabric you'll need to add to the structure on the inside.
Guys, I was wrong, the bad spot is NOT on a flat area, between the strakes. It appears to have been repaired at an earlier time with some type of epoxy..maybe JB weld? I am pretty good at turning wrenches, but have never attempted to repair any type of fiberglass. Id be affraid to try to repair a flat spot, muchless something like this. Im thinking maybe I had better tow it somewhere and let someone that knows wth they are doing, fix it? What should I expect to spend for labor/material cost? Maybe its not as bad as I think, maybe its worse..I dont know anything about glass, and how to repair. Thanks for the help!
Modified by craiger at 1:53 PM 2/25/2008
Modified by craiger at 5:52 PM 2/25/2008
Man I would be pissed if that wasn't disclosed to me when I bought the boat!!!
I'd get some Marine Tex and do the repair with that.
I drove down to LA the 1st week of Jan, to pick this boat up. The seller did disclose the bad spot b4 we took the boat to the lake for a test run. It felt smooth to the touch, at the time. I failed to examine that spot when we got off the lake, so I guess you could say it was a large mistake on my behalf.When I got the boat back home, I noticed that the spot had gotten worse. It must have came apart on the test run. I havent had the boat in any water since. The Marinetex a couple of you guys mentioned....will that hold up with this bad spot being where it is? Is it an online item, or can it be found at Boat shops? And should I use fiberglass tape with it since the crack extends the corner? Thanks again!
Modified by craiger at 5:49 PM 2/25/2008
Make sure you rough it up really well with a grinder or a dremel tool before you attempt to bond to it. Go ahead and eat out all the loose fibers,they probably appear dry. You can go to a paint store and get fiberglass repair kits that have fiberglass putty in them. Catylize the putty and spread it in with a bondo spreader, then wait. The putty will shrink so you may need two coats. Then sand with 180 grit and follow that with 320,and then you can spray a light coat of gelcoat. Sand that with 600 grit, buff and it is good as new.
I found some Marinetex at a local boat dealer. They spoke highly of it. Will post some pics after I get it finished. Thanks guys!
I found some stuff at this place to help fix gelcoat mix a little paint to match smooth it with wax paper let it dry looks good works good even used it on the fiberglass on my brothers truck
http://www.lbifiberglass.com
Finally got it sanded down. I ran into another section that had previously been patched, and was uncertain whether or not to sand it out, being that deep. The area all around the bad spot was roughed using a dremmel. Had to goop the stuff on thick because it wasnt filling the bad area completely. Ready for sanding, and color next. Thanks for the help guys!
There are a lot of stress cracks in that patch area. I recommend that you get it professionally fixed. Those stress cracks from impact could open up and chip out thus, removing the patch you just give. That area really needs to be ground down and filled back up with glass to make it a strong patch.
Just my .02.
Justin Russell
I would agree, looks like it spider webbed pretty good from what i see in the pic.
Stroker 21
Mercury 250 PRO XB
TN Bluewater dealer/rep.
BBO
I hate to say it, but that looks like a $5k+ repair to me... That looks much worse than my stump hit I had a few years back....
You have a lot of spiders... And they take all affected areas into the sq. footaged required to fix it properly... May be even more$....
But we can't see the real thing,, was this just a bad gouge or a significant impact...?
Layton Strong
Nitro State Team
I agree, you need that professionaly repaired. Thats is huge. I hope you got a heck of a deal on the boat even if the seller was up front.
Here's my .02.
I would run it as is and if it gets worse, then I'd file a claim for a professional repair.
The cracks look to be radiated so it could have been from a single major impact, which took the chunk out and created those cracks at that same time. Unless you ding it again, I don't think those cracks will grow but keep an eye on them anayway by marking the ends.
I've ran boats before with cracks on the bottom with no problems, but will hurt resale to the knowledeable buyer.
BTW, was the mat still intact or was some mat missing? What you attempted is typical if the mat was intact. If mat was missing, you need to consider doing it right by adding more glass then the gel.
Good luck!
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