Repairing a hole in GRP tender

[Judders]

My grp tender has a small hole in it. It is about 7mm accross and because it goes through one of the keels, it is about 35mm deep. I've never done any GRP work what so ever.

Presumbably I can pick up a pack with filler in it? What if I want to build the area up at all?

Is there any mixing involved?

 

[duncan]

if you want to do it properly then you will probably want to open it out a bit on the outside to ensure you fill it all and then use a gell filler for the top 1-2mm etc etc

alternatively just clean it up as best with acetone then use the plastic padding fibreglass filler, mix and ram/pack into the hole as best you can from one side, having put some masking tape over the other - here working from in to out can work best - finishing flush on the inside to avoid any more work!

at 7mm I would be tempted to use sikaflex unless I was doing the thing to a cosmetic standard for some reason

 

[Twister_Ken]

Similar happened to me. Needed repairing in a hurry. Got a tube of something called Waterweld from a swindlery. Pressed it into the hole, smoothed it off with a wet finger. Not pretty, but it's still there a year later.

 

[duncan]

ah the old epoxy plug route - missed that one despite having 2 tubes in the tool box! probably one of the better solutions as it will seal the surrounding GRP from water ingress quite well too.

 

[VicS]

Old but this grp repair manual might be hepfull.

Isopon P40 body filler, containing some glass fibres, may be useful. (from Halfords etc)

If appearance is not important some glass mat to cover the hole after cleaning up well will be a quick solution, but make sure the mat is well soaked and given a final coat of resin to fill any little holes.

Liquid resin or tubes of filler come with hardener to be mixed with it according to the instructions. It sets quickly in warm weather so dont mix more than you need

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Judders,

By the time you purchase the epoxy resin, cloth, Acetone, rubber gloves, paint brush and filler for this small repair, you would be better off getting someone to do it for you, thus saving the cost of left over materials that may never get used.

However if you would like full instructions I can post them.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Judders]

God I love this site.

Waterweld until the autumn methinks, then something more ambitious to keep me occupied in the winter!

 

[Lakesailor]

Small stuff. I repaired a gaping hole in my tender by packing the back (it was a sealed compartment) with expanded polystyrene and then used GRP filler (Like Vic recommended) It goes off in about 20 minutes and is waterproof enough for tender use.
I did it 2 years ago and it's still sound. Never bothered painting it.

This is the Isopon at Halfords.
Plastic Padding do one as well (the one I used) They have glass fibre strands in them so thet form a solid patch.

 

[William_H]

The repair will be easy. And it is worth doing it yourself for the experience and joy of diy.

There are all sorts of products available from hardware stores as a fibreglass kit or from motor actor as a fibreglass body filler. Most are polyester resin although epoxy in the form of Araldite or similar would be better.
Resins come as either liquid or thicker material. All will require mixing in some manner. Some epoxies come inb the form of strips of something like plastercine that are mixed together.
A runny liquid can be thickened with talc or special fill;er material so you can make it as rujnnyor thick as you want.
You can add fibreglass to the repair to both hopld the liquid in place and give strength. I don't think strength will be a concern for your small size.

The trick is to push the resin or whatever you choose into the hoile as far as possible then allow it to harden. You can then add more resin to get it leval and smooth.

I thinkl I would suggest Araldite or similar glue as the left overs can be used for all sorts of repairs at home. regards olewill

 

[tcm]

Never mind about your ugly long-lasting finger, how's the hole?

 

[davidfox]

Love the house! not sure about your tender!!

 

[Lakesailor]

Workmanlike. Or to put it another way. Less desirable to the light-fingered. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The house - www.stockghyllcottage.co.uk