project: fiberglass patch

I patched the hole in the bow today.

It looks like absolute crap, but it's a first draft and I can always cut it out and start over.

Fiberglassing is difficult business. It's sloppy, extremely fluid, and when the matt/tape gets wet it becomes a million loose, sticky threads that don't want to behave properly. Think of the stickiest gum that has ever been stuck to the bottom of your shoe. Now multiply it by a babillion.

The Process:
I opened a rather big hole in the foredeck, hogged out the balsa core* where it was wet, and left it open for the days it didn't rain. When it did rain I made a ring of silicon sealant to use to glue a plastic grocery sack as a waterproof and windproof cover.

Then, when I was ready to glass, I took two different sized wooden dowel and created ribs in the hole. I spaced them out and wedged them into the hogged out area. Alternating between the ribs I jammed fiberglass matt into the core and wrapped it around the dowels. I used as much as I could fit in the hole, not worrying if it bulged.

I mixed up one batch of epoxy and began slathering it on. I discovered that as soon as it saturated, or sometimes even wet the fiberglass mat it dripped through the hole. So I took a thick piece of cardboard box and staplegunned it to the underside of the deck to create a dam. Back with another batch of epoxy.