[mattman]

Got an old fiberglass tri-hull for bow fishing. works great and love my set up, but its got a leak somewhere. I was wondering if there was something that could coat the outside and make it water tight. I think gel coat might work but would like to know if anyone else had experience with fiberglass boat before i tore into mine?

 

[NuffDaddy]

West system epoxy.

 

[mattman]

I will check that out. It looks expensive but might be worth it. I was thinking about maybe rhino-lining the whole outside. but not sure how it would hold up to water and logs

 

[NuffDaddy]

I will check that out. It looks expensive but might be worth it. I was thinking about maybe rhino-lining the whole outside. but not sure how it would hold up to water and logs

It's crazy expensive, but it works great. that's all we use at the boat shop I work at. We buy it in 55gal drums.

 

[mattman]

do you have to sand the clear coat off first? to be honest im not to sure how much longer im going to keep this boat as I would like to get a bigger one. I just wanted some that we be cheap and water tight

 

[NuffDaddy]

do you have to sand the clear coat off first? to be honest im not to sure how much longer im going to keep this boat as I would like to get a bigger one. I just wanted some that we be cheap and water tight

Your going to want to get it down to the fiberglass for the best hold. Don't know what the crack looks like, but all you should have to do is sand about a 1/2 inch around it then pack it with the epoxy the sand it smooth when it gets hard. Will be stronger than before.

 

[mattman]

I dont have any crack that I can find but after a full night of shooting I can have anywhere from a gallon to 5 in the back. maybe i will just get a pump and call it good

 

[NuffDaddy]

Oh. Then that epoxy would get expensive quick. Maybe just put a coat of paint on the bottom.

 

[wheelie]

Leak is under water level likely on the rib that runs up the trailer. Only way likely to find it is to turn boat upside down to find leak.

I had a fibreglass ski boat years ago. Had a 65 hp Suzuki. I would patch the holes every couple years due to going so fast it would rip the patchs right off. I would say it depends on the motor and speed of boat. I would grind some out and put in fibreglass body filler (green)and then put some mat over it then a good marine paint. Worked good and not very difficult. Boat would throw up 10 foot rooster tails in high speed. Nothing worse in my opinion than a leaky boat. Never got another fibreglass boat again. Good luck in what you choose. Pump is a good option as well till you get a new boat. Had a boat for 40 years and five of them years were a fibreglass.

 

[mattman]

Thanks for the Info. I think I will go with a pump and maybe go over the bottom with epoxy in the winter. I dont think i will have to worrie about ripping the patchs off due to the fact I dont even have a motor yet, and when I do it will probably only go like 10mph :jig: