Chipped f rib hull

[Duggie12]

Hi all

My f rib hull is chipped in a few places already. I am going to fit a guard. How much does the chip matter do you think and do I need to fill it? If so can anyone recommend a product ?

Thanks

Douglas

[The Gurnard]

Hi again Duggie... I guess a chip or two is inevitable ..but nothing to worry about.

Thats the beauty of fibre glass ..although its quite fragile ..its easy to repair. I got a ding in mine a while back. Although that scratch you see in the photo goes right over the ding..it was caused by sitting it down on its edge when folded. It slipped out my hand a little.

So set them down easy if standing on end. Opening it up with stones around will also chip it.

As mentioned..its very easy to repair..I have a tube of Fibre Glass Repair ..made by plastic padding ..and its great stuff. Just mask the surrounding area with tape. Fill the ding..then you can sand it smooth. Duncans Yacht Chandler near you sells the filler. If you are not down to the fibre cloth weave ..no need to repair..but I think you are down to it in your photo..so I would remove that piece that looks like its cracked..ready to fall out soon..and fill it level with the outer surface.

The Easy Keel tape is the bees knees .. its around £8 per meter for the 2” strip. I had an extra meter left after doing mine..so split it into half ..long wise and stuck it on various “wear” spots. Its been on since the start of the season and the boat has been hauled up beaches every other day..and its standing up fine..well worth the money

[Duggie12]

That's perfect donny thanks v much. I'll get that tidied up and get the guard on it. Fibreglass is new to me.

I suppose it wouldnt be too difficult to crack the whole hull and wreck the boat? I'm just wondering if I hit a rock when motoring, it could happen ? I'll need to take a bit more care - maybe get a padded sheet or something to lay it down on when building it

That's the beauty of my honwave. It has had years of being dragged over rocks etc any rips on the hull I can just patch up. The fact that they are only a grand helps as well.

[The Gurnard]

The hull itself will be stronger than you may think Duggie ..the strength comes from the fibre weave in the hull ..same stuff you get in Halfords for car repairs etc. The weave is held together and in shape with a resin.. and this makes a nice solid hull. Its not smooth however ..so the boat is covered with another resin called “gell coat”. That is what has chipped. Its because it is a right angle and sharp edge ...also .. there is no fibre weave in that small area...to give it strength.

The Glass Fibre Filler has small particles of fibre chopped up in the resin ..and you mix the resin with the hardener which is also in the box. Its good stuff.

I use the carrier bag the F Rib is wrapped in to assemble it so stones don’t catch on the edges..but sometimes I trap the cover in the gap if Im not careful.

Incidentally..all fibre glass boats scratch and chip..its not that the F-Rib is poor quality.. in fact.. I was impressed with the fibre glass hull workmanship . You can knock a hole in any fibre glass boat..but as mentioned..its easy to repair..so don’t worry from that respect..and it is unlikely to happen.

[Duggie12]

Ah interesting - that's good to know, thanks again

What would i do without these forums!