[Paddlewise] Repairing fibreglass and wood boat

From: Jerry Hawkins <jhawkins_at_cisco.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 15:48:27 -0800
While paddling this weekend I noticed one of those things that gives me the willies.  My fibreglass over cedar canoe needs a repair.  

It appears the exterior gelcoat is scratched deeply in one spot.  On the inside of the boat in the same spot one of the cedar strips has a 2-3 cm star-shaped cracked area.  While paddling, a tiny amount of water was coming up -- enough just to dampen the wood (which is covered with a thin layer of fibreglass).  

What is the proper order of things when making a repair like this?  Does it matter if I fix the gel coat first or last?  I've been told I am supposed to scrape deeply in the wood to remove any water permeated material, and backfill with polyester resin.  How exactly do I fix the gel coat?  Advice appreciated.

jerry.
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Received on Mon Nov 15 1999 - 15:50:19 PST

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