Wood repair

[Dave_Knowles]

Hi,

The back rail is screwed into the edge of the deck but unfortunately the wood under the GRP is rotten. Can anyone please suggest a filler which I can fill the holes with and then put new screws into. I can't easily replace the wood as it bonded into the GRP.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dave
Southampton - uk

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[AndCur]

If you can get at the wood under the GRP i would cut it out and rebond piece of wood in its place. Other wise mix up some epoxy with micro fibres and fill the holes with this.

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[Dave_Knowles]

I have been looking at West System as a filler do you think that would be OK.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dave
Southampton - uk

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk>The site for cleopatra boat owners</A>

 

[AndCur]

I use the West system for any repairs i do. To use as a filler you will have to use one of the additives but you can get these in a repair pack.

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[samuel]

Contact wessex Resins
They are extremely helpful
I sheathed a complete boat using West systems & it is very easy to use but you MUST use the right gear so contacting Wessex is very important.

<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[stephenh]

Drill a series of holes into the rotten area ( not all the way through) and then inject with a wood hardener called GITROT. This has the advaantage over other wood hardeners - Rustins, West etc. - in that it kills the fungi that is present.
Good luck

Stephen

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[fishermantwo]

Dave. You need to kill the spores first or the problem will re occur. Use some old style concentrated engine coolant, the green glycol stuff. Just paint it on till the wood can absorb no more, it really sucks it up. When dry, use any of the propriatry wood hardeners or make up your own, there should be a recipe on www.woodenboat.com. I would use a reinforced fibreglass filler for the screw holes.

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[oldsaltoz]

G'day Dave,

I assume this rotted timber is not structural in passing this on: You need to prevent more water entering, so just filling the holes will not stop the problems.

You have drill the holes out oversize and back fill with epoxy (West System is fine) and some micro fibres, but don't fill to the top, leave a couple of mm so you can put some micro Balloons over the top, much easier to sand and a better finish than fibres, when the fill has cured, give a couple of coats of resin only and touch up with a good paint.

Now re-drill your holes and re screw.

Hope this helps...




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[Dave_Knowles]

So I can screw into West system and get a good hold? Also what is micro Balloons?

<hr width=100% size=1>Dave
Southampton - uk

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk>The site for cleopatra boat owners</A>

 

[oldsaltoz]

Micro Balloons are very small spheres of hardened resin, when mixed with epoxy to a consistency like toothpaste, they provide a good smooth finish and are very easy to sand.

Micro Fibres are mixed with epoxy to form a very strong medium for gluing and screwing, however, the ends of the fibres can be exposed when sanding, so a coat or two of resin after curing is a good practice. Micro Fibres are very hard to sand, so best to underfill and top up with micro balloons.

All resins will degrade from UV exposure, so a coat of paint or Gel-coat is important.

I hope this helps.



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