Hardtop fiberglass repair

fgeorgey2025

fgeorgey2025

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Fisherman 230
Good afternoon to you all
I’m looking for some advices to repair/reinforce my hardtop fiberglass.
I started my project by removing the old carpet and sand out all the residuals to level on the surface. I was thinking to put a new carpet, but I decided to take the hard route by reinforcing batching and painting.
I’m a little afraid of the task but willing to listen to good advices.. I would really appreciate if someone would give me tips of what to do in sequence.

Thanks to all of you as ever!
 

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Go on YouTube and look up Fish bump tv. Joe Buskins has all kinds of fiberglass repair videos and he goes over the steps and materials you need.
 
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Looks like balsa core? Cut out any bad wood from the under side. Look at anywhere where there was a screw going into or thru.
If there is a lot of bad wood you can remove all wood and replace with foam core (nidacore, hexcell, divynil foam)

Ditch the carpet for godsake! reglass and fair and prime & paint

I would use epoxy. for ease but it costs more.
You should use polyester if you want to gelcoat instead of paint.

Thats a perfect novice fiberglass project. You don' thave to match anything. It stands alone.

https://www.greatgrady.com/threads/hardtop-paint-265express.33928/
 
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I refinished my hardtop a few years ago. Gelcoat chipping all around and heavy chalking. Also no reinforcement for the rigger bases leading to stress cracks. AwlGrip epoxy fairing, AwlGrip epoxy paint. Coosa composite board for rigger base reinforcement. Topside non-skid underside car hood gloss finish to match hull.

Gel Chips.jpeg Gel fail.jpeg Hardtop coring.jpeg Hardtop underside 2.jpeg Repair underside.jpeg

Hardtop top 1.jpeg Hardtop underside.jpeg Hardtop top 2.jpeg Hardtop on.jpeg

As SkunkBoat said use epoxy products for repair. Easier for DIY person to use with excellent results. This was my first fiberglass and painting project and it came out great. I give AwlGrip the credit. Grind out all defects including cracks. Install Coosa boar reinforcing where needed and take out and overlay tower frame. Give boat sides a rolled out coat of AwlGrip epoxy primer it give the fairing a good base. AwlFair epoxy fairing (fast) - better to do multiple thin coats - one coat down - leave in sun - sand and recoat next day. Belt sander for aggressive take down, palm sander for finer finish. To flatten large areas use a sheetrock hand sanding tool with sheet. Prime and sand after fairing. I used AwlGrip "Off-White Revisited" topcoat for a good equivalent to faded GW gelcoat. Jamestown distributors online is a good source for AwlGrip.

Hookup1

Post in thread 'Fiberglass Repair to Hardtop'

There a lot of factors to consider and I'm fine helping you navigate. First two questions - 1.) What level of finish do you want? 2.) Are you doing the work yourself.

I started out trying to find someone to refinish the hardtop. No one wanted a "small" job. Others told me to just replace it - it would be cheaper than refinishing. Eventually I decided to do it myself (with no previous experience doing this type of work AKA How hard can it be?). I'll include some before and after pictures.


Gel Chips.jpeg Gel fail.jpeg Hardtop coring.jpeg Rigger Mount 1.jpeg Rigger Mount 2.jpeg

After 25 years of sun the...
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This guy "Frankie" was a big help with using AwlGrip products. Only product I didn't like was the acrylic filler. Only use it for pin holes if you don't want to mix fairing.
 
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