How not to patch fiberglass

[Keith V]

My coach was redone in 2002. The cabinetry is beautiful, these guys were good carpenters and the electrical is ok. But thats about it.
Todays rant is about fiberglass. These guys filled the side propane door by screwing a piece of aluminum in the hole gluong a piece of body fiberglass to the aluminum, then coating the whole mess in about 1/4 inch of bondo.
They were so close.
If they would have just glassed in the piece they had, i wouldnt be here!

But its all torn out and a new piece is ready to glass in

 

[Moondog]

The repair lasted 21 years. Good job picking up the other crack. Was that one caused by the cockpit floor rotting?

 

[Keith V]

It didnt last 21 years, it was cracked when i bought it 14 years ago. It just bubbled to the top of of the todo list.

What other crack?

 

[RoadWarrior]

It didnt last 21 years, it was cracked when i bought it 14 years ago. It just bubbled to the top of of the todo list.

What other crack?

Make sure you use a resin that is compatible with SMC. It is different from standard fiberglass resin.

 

[Matt Colie]

Keith,
If you really want it to bond well and last a long time, find someplace to buy West epoxy and measuring pumps. Stay away from polyester as it does not bond well to much (that is what Bondo, and others are. If the mix ratio is like 1:32 or 1:64, those are what you don't want. You will have a bad mix about 1/3 of the time even with careful measuring. With epoxy the ratios are like 1:4 or less and with the pumps, you can forget about bad mix problems. Time was that I was buy the West stuff in 5 gallon jugs. I got very familiar with it.
Matt_C

 

[Keith V]

Yep I'm using West Marine epoxy. Only epoxy. Not my first rodeo
I learned on a 69 corvette whice is also SMC

 

[boybach]

Catalyst quantities using polyester resins are not as critical as with epoxies. The catalyst's only function is to generate heat and it is heat that cures polyester resin.