I HAVE A WOOD BOAT THAT HAS LEAKS IN IT AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A POSSIBLE PERMANANT FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT IS INEXPENSIVE. THERE IS A LEAK IN THE TRANSEM AND A COUPLE OTHER SPOTS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SEAL THE WHOLE BOTTOM.
2006-09-23 13:58:26 · 11 answers · asked by ourinternet21 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
Fixing the leaks is a separate process, but once that's done, sealing will definitely be step two.
While inexpensive is a relative term and depends totally on your ultimate goals, consider checking out Aluthane to seal your boat. You can read about it here: http://www.epoxyproducts.com/aluthane.html
FWIW, I think the site www.epoxyproducts.com has some great information and would be very much worth your while to check out. I have no relationship with them, I just appreciate finding good sources of information and, despite the amateur presentation, this site has information in abundance.
2006-09-24 05:07:44 · answer #1 · answered by Jess Wundring 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd recommend you DO NOT fiberglass the bottom unless you really know what you're doing. Glassing it will trap water in the bottom causing it to rot and fail faster than it is doing now. I'm assuming this is a trailered boat that is not left in the water for more than a day or two? Also fiberglassing will cause you to use a lot of resin which is not cleap, and to do it right, you'd have to flip the boat and completely strip ALL the paint.
What *I* would do: strip away any loose paint, then apply epoxy resins to the bare wood in spots were leaks are evident. Then apply 3m 5200 in areas where there are substantial voids that the epoxy won't fill. 5200 is flexible and good for larger gaps. Just do this in spots where leaks are.
Don't think of sealing the whole bottom of the boat unless you're able to seal EVERY board surface and edge from the upper side of the bottom as well - as that standing water is the water that damages the wood. That's called an encapsulation method, and only realistically works when the boat is made (new) or a total restoration of the bottom by removing every bottom board.
Finish with a good quality marine paint - at least two coats.
I've had good experience with West epoxies, but they're expensive and harder to mix than the 1:1 ratios of the epoxies at ClarkCraft.com. SystemThree also makes nice epoxies.
2006-09-26 06:16:46 · answer #2 · answered by Dan K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
West System marine epoxy. There are other brands that cost less and probably work just as well, but it's the standard. Also check out Wooden Boat magazine.
2006-09-23 14:56:21 · answer #3 · answered by Comrade Wolf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We covered the bottom of our boat up to the splash rails with canvas then covered it with fiberglass and resin. Worked well for the last 40 years on a 12 foot rowboat. The size, shape and propulsion will be needed to determine the final "best answer."
2006-09-23 14:48:52 · answer #4 · answered by mark56649 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have sealed a couple boats with epoxy, all you need you do is clean the wood up real good, sand off severe rough spots. Then you can just mix it up, (a little at a time), - being aware that some have very short "curing time" and will harden before you can get it all on. You will know it is "too late" when it starts getting "stringy" and clinging to brush! Throw it away and start another batch! You need a cheap brush, as you will have to throw that away too, - with about every batch (get several)! Don't let "hardner" and "epoxy" compound get together, it will set the whole batch (in the can)!
After it has "cured" you can feather down edges of epoxied area, and paint it to choice, -or just leave it as is! Light sanding of entire area will make paint adhere good.
You can ask at "paint store" as to about how nuch you will need. You can also buy it with "colored pigment" at and additional cost!
Use "rubber gloves", and old disposable clothes! Since if you get it on you, you don't get it off, you can clean it off skin with MEK (metyl Ethyl Ketone), - available at some paint stores, but wash area with soapy water and clean as soon as you can. This stuff is real caustic (&and smells terrible), if you get it on synthetic cloth, - it wil literally "melt" the stuff down, (dissolves epoxy), will also melt plexiglass, so if you have a "windshield" on boat, keep mek away from it!!
2006-09-23 14:49:08 · answer #5 · answered by guess78624 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yeha im with everyone else try a epoxy resin you can get it at home depot in the paint center and get some fiberglass cloth too soak the cloth and then allpy like wallpaper to the very bottom seam and then just epoxy the rest and let it dry you should have no more problems after that.
2006-09-23 18:07:26 · answer #6 · answered by gsschulte 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is the two mix stuff for larger boats, but for smaller ones, you can just use several coats of polypropylene paint. It will last several seasons.
2006-09-23 18:10:30 · answer #7 · answered by Dusty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tig welder with aluminium welding rod
2016-03-18 00:29:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get yourself a can of fiberglass resin this might work well for you.
2006-09-23 14:02:54 · answer #9 · answered by Vulcan 1 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
west system and glass it
2006-09-25 15:02:53 · answer #10 · answered by scott s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋