Hey everyone it’s been a while since I’ve posted (kids,work etc) has been insane the past few years. Anyhow, years back ( 6 if I remember correctly) I had my gas tank lid repaired/re cored with new wood. I noticed this past off season that there appears to be an air pocket forming in one section aprx 8” round with stress mark coming from the center of the pocket. It was done at a reputable shop, but the worker is no longer there that I used to deal with. My best guess is when the work was performed in the middle of the winter, that it didn’t cure properly and the resin didn’t spread evenly in that area and created a small air pocket that’s now rearing It’s ugly head. My fear is obviously that the stress mark is going to crack on the pressure and I want to know if I’m able to repair it without removing the lid. I was thinking that I could a hole saw to cut out the section , apply a layer of expoxy resin and weight it all down till it cures. I don’t have the time to remove the lid until after the summer and I plan on doing a lot of fishing in the next month. What’s your guys thoughts on this?
Gas tank lid delamination repair
- Thread starter mleads310
- Start date
Just to be clear what I mean by cut the section out I mean, just cut the gel coat layer out not the core itself
That would be my approach; grind out the delaminated area to see how bad the issue is. If the substrate is solid, the tapered out section can be reglassed, faired and gel coated. If you do not have experience with fiberglass repair and you care what the final job looks like, I suggest you have a reputable shop do the repair
I have experience with fiberglass, but I am by no means very skilled in it. But I can do it. I was hoping that if I take a hole saw and cut out the air bubble section giving me just the skin removed ( 8” circle piece of gel coat skin in tact) that I should be able to lay a thin layer of glass and reattach the circle skin cut out in the process, removing all the air.
SkunkBoat
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My thought is that its generally better to remove the lid and repair from the bottom. That leaves the top "deck" gelcoat intact.
All your work is hidden. You don't have to paint or re-gelcoat.
If the deck side has already been painted then it doesn't matter.
All your work is hidden. You don't have to paint or re-gelcoat.
If the deck side has already been painted then it doesn't matter.
The deck side has never been repainted. It was left intact when the core repair was done years ago. I’m not so concerned about the aesthetics of it as I do fish the boat hard and the deck side gelcoat definitely has its marks on it.
Hookup1
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As SkunkBoat said - repair from the bottom. Take it all out, use a composit and epoxy to repair and be done with it. Done right done once.
Sardinia306Canyon
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Repair from the bottom as you have the fuel tank below and don't want to drill in it or scratch it and it's probably not necessary to cut a hole out.
If you can't do it now then leave it as it is or overpaint with a "flexible" paint to seal the spider cracks.
You could also grind the gelcoat and fibreglass away and add new glass and gelcoat but that would not look pretty as well and a lot of work for a temporary fix.
Chris
If you can't do it now then leave it as it is or overpaint with a "flexible" paint to seal the spider cracks.
You could also grind the gelcoat and fibreglass away and add new glass and gelcoat but that would not look pretty as well and a lot of work for a temporary fix.
Chris