Identify and diagnose the damage to your boat or ship before repairing

Many boat and ship owners will testify that the formation of cracks or scratches in the hull of the ship is a matter of routine. There are many reasons for the formation of these defects some of which are due to careless docking, fishing rods and more. These defects make up the majority of the ongoing repair and maintenance work that needs to be done. Some of the repairs can be done by yourself and others you will have to contact a professional.

Most of the cracks do not appear all at once but appear gradually and over time and they result from exposing the outer surface of the boat to sun, moisture, and other weather damage. Usually the first areas to crack are the curved deck to the cell panel, around or near the windows and other places where there is a direct contact of treading, friction and the like.

It is important to note that the smaller the damage you leave the longer it will likely become more problematic and difficult to repair.

This is how you will identify and evaluate the damage

Regular repairs for damages especially that are small and have not developed into major damage are recommended, any repair as it is will help you maintain your boat in terms of integrity and in terms of value alike. There are several ways to repair a boat when there are cracks and defects and the most common is use with epoxy or fiberglass. If you have chosen to repair yourself you will be able to obtain self-repair kits and materials that will give the stools of professionals, as long as you adhere to the correct boat repair process.

  There is another important detail and that is the color matching, painted boats follow the boats and they have their own hue. Matching the color can be a daunting challenge but the result will no doubt be so perfect that you will not be able to differentiate between the repaired area in the boat and the rest of the boat. It is usually preferable to make fiberglass repairs over epoxy and this is due to the ability to reach a wider range of colors.

Have you decided to fix it yourself? Get now the 8 tips for perfect boat repair

First of all – damage assessment:

Decide if the crack is caused by impact or by bending, damage resulting from a bump will have a circular configuration with a central point of impact, bending damage will be longer and rather flat.

After examining the damage get the quickest and easiest repair method:

1 – Polishing

Sand around the affected area while creating a fine notch, if there is a deep crack it is recommended to make a light cut, it is important to sand well and not leave any sharp or protruding part. This can be done by polishing with sandpaper or a sanding sponge, starting with a deficit of 80 to 150 and ending with a deficit of 240. Wipe the area and leave it clean with no dust or debris.

2 – Preparation of the filler

Now, prepare the filling. If you use an epoxy filler purchased at the store, be sure to follow the instructions issued by the manufacturer in its preparation. If you choose a fiberglass mixture you will accumulate a powdered fiberglass and a colored gel coating to prepare the filling mixture.

The exact color of your boat will be available through the manufacturer, pay attention to its serial number, model and model to ensure you get the right one.

When mixing the filler, be sure to adhere to the manufacturer's instructions regarding the relationship. The final texture should be like peanut butter; It should be smeared but not too liquid.

3 – Application of the filler

Spread the filling on the affected area with the flat end of a mixing stick or plastic spatula. Fill the scratches or scrapes gradually, making sure the filler is pressed into the fibers and shape it to fit the contours using a plastic spatula.

Leave the mixture slightly higher than the environment and remove excess before it starts to dry out. Allow the epoxy to dry thoroughly and without heating or assistance on your part.

The length of time to dry will depend on a number of factors: temperature, humidity and texture of the mixture. If the treated area is not dry it will be sticky to the touch.

4 – Preparation for painting

When the filling is completely dry, sand the area to blend it with the contours around the patient's area.

Use coarse sandpaper but not too much to reach the height of the treated environment and switch to sandpaper or a fine wet or dry sponge to remove all the bumps Finish the polishing with a fine deficit of 240 when you are close to the final shape.

For larger full areas, use a sander for a smoother finish in a shorter working time.

5 – Results control

Pass by hand over the treated area, if there are any cavities or internal defects sinking or the lines are not uniform, repeat steps 3 and 4.

6 – Spraying the corrected surface

Once everything is in order it is time to re-spray the stuffed and polished area. To do this, mix the epoxy paint in the proportions specified in the manufacturer's instructions.

It is important to note that while spraying is the best way to evenly apply the paint to the surface, epoxy spraying is much different from paint spraying, it can be difficult to apply, quite messy, and will not provide a smooth finish in the first place, so additional process steps are required to get the finish Your brilliant. Wait for the paint to blend in with the repaired area and harden completely before sanding.

7 – Finish before polishing

Gently sand the repaired area with wet and dry sandpaper with a deficit ranging from at least 800 to 1200.

8 – Polishing and polishing

In order to get the glossy shine after repair and painting, the repaired area must be polished. Be sure to use high-quality polishing materials to give a finish and protection to the repainted area.

Do you have more questions? Did you not understand something? The professional team of Michel Cohen – Materials and Equipment is at your service and is available to answer any question.