repairs adhesive/epoxy

[Roger52]

When my boat was re engined many years before I acquired her a hatch was cut in the cockpit sole no doubt to make the installation easier. It certainly helps with servicing etc. The cover is the cut out section from the cockpit strenghened with glassed in ply. Over the years it has got wet and I am going to replace it. The ply can be stuck to the hatch cover and I am going to glass it over again to keep the wet out as far as possible. Would a contact adhesive of the No More Nails type be ok or should I go down the epoxy route. The whole thing is bolted to an aluminium frame which provides more support but the hatch has to be strong because it's part of the sole of the cockpit. All advice gratefully received.

 

[alahol2]

I'd be inclined to prepare the underside of the hatch by abrading it well. Then coat the ply with resin and lay it onto a layer of wetted out glass mat whilst all was still wet.

 

[electrosys]

Written on the side of the Unibond 'No More Nails" tube is written (in bold): "Do not use No More Nails in permanently damp or wet areas."

So I'd recommend using either polyurethane glue or epoxy (preferred).

 

[William_H]

Engine cut out

I imagine the cover itself is the original cockpit floor. I imagine it is the reinforcing ply wood under the fibreglass cover that has failed.
Use epoxy in a warm environment. Cut the ply so that it produces a shape like speed humps on the road. ie smooth humps rather than square shape. Then apply fibreglass cloth at a 45 degree angle over the humps. What we are trying to do is get the glass to follow the hump closely without air voids. Some filler at the edges of the ply can help here. Just remember it is the height of the "speed humps" that provides the rigidity. Put several layers of fibreglass over the ply such that eventually you have enough to keep moisture out and provide additional stiffness to the cover. I hope that helps. good luck olewill

 

[oldsaltoz]

If you want timber to stick fibreglass, use epoxy resin to seal the timber, and use epoxy resin mixed with Micro-fibres to fix the timber to the glass.

The ply will de-laminate rather than come away.

Have fun.