Bow Repair ?

[Shaun]

You'll be able to repair that yourself Brad.
Get a sharp chisel hack off all the loose flakes of gelcoat, doesn't matter if you get a bit carried away. Get some International Epifill, mix up small batches & apply it with a paddle pop stick or something, sand between batches (this stuff is very hard to sand particularly when fully cured), may take half a dozen batches at least, wet & dry sandpaper for final sanding, make sure area is free of dust between coats, use whatever instructions say or (methylated spirits????....check that!), marvel at your handywork each time you row to or from your dinghy!.

Using a bit of fibreglass resin & flowcoat would be a bit cheaper. Others may have better ideas,
cheers

[Miker]

Yes Brad, not too bad and easy to repair.

One thing you should do is run your mooring line through your Bow roller every time you moor the boat. Having it resting on the toe rail like that will eventually wear the toe rail, and perhaps break it completely.

[DESIREMK1]

Thanking All that have helped with my dilema :

Diana :
Thanks for Johns Phone Number , ill keep it handy .

Phillip :
Thanks for posting the pictures for me mate , sometimes technology gets the better of me !!

Shaun :
Your advice has strengthened my resolve to repair the damage , myself .

Miker :
Thanks for the advice in regard to proper mooring practice , i always welcome advice , where i have been inadequate ln dealing with matters . My Beautiful , and long suffering wife Natasha , advises me all the time !!! Lol

Brad
DESIREMK1

[Troppo]

You'll be able to repair that yourself Brad.
Get a sharp chisel hack off all the loose flakes of gelcoat, doesn't matter if you get a bit carried away. Get some International Epifill, mix up small batches & apply it with a paddle pop stick or something, sand between batches (this stuff is very hard to sand particularly when fully cured), may take half a dozen batches at least, wet & dry sandpaper for final sanding, make sure area is free of dust between coats, use whatever instructions say or (methylated spirits????....check that!), marvel at your handywork each time you row to or from your dinghy!.

Using a bit of fibreglass resin & flowcoat would be a bit cheaper. Others may have better ideas,
cheers

I second what Shaun says. You want the repair to be tough seeing as you might bump it again : ). So my opinion is DON'T use an easy-sand fairing powder in the epoxy (like Q-cell). Do layers, perhaps a bit of fibreglass cloth or layers of straight epoxy like Shaun says. I encourage you to dig 'little valleys' along cracks with ya chisel so that the epoxy gets in there and has plenty to hold onto. I often do this hand holding a small sharp chisel and use it a bit like a scraper to prepare for using the epoxy. Once the epoxy has started to set you can slap another layer straight on.

Masking tape can be useful in some places as a bit of a 'dam' to keep the runny epoxy from going too far and for protecting the surrounding area BUT can be a problem if the tape gets epoxied hard to the surface.

The final sand might be a bit of time with wet and dry, although you might be able to do a first rough job with a grinder then smooth it out with the wet and dry by hand, but the repair is gunna last forever. If you do use a grinder, I suggest you take it real slow and careful and don't try and get it perfect, leave some there to remove by hand. Easy to go too far with a grinder then you have to put another layer on, so I have found. : )

When you finish it and paint it I reckon you will feel really happy with ya repair.

troppo

[bearmcnally]

Hi Brad
That's nothing ? Lucky it's a MK 1 ! I agree with Phil ,the only thing I would do different would be wash the damaged area out with acetone and then paint / push resin over the exposed fiberglass before gelcoat .

Cheers Bear

[Troppo]

I agree with Bear, lucky it was a Mk I. Brad has only shown the damage done to his boat, you should see the big crack in the concrete pier he ran into .

troppo

[DESIREMK1]

For Liability Reasons , i will not disclose Cement Barges location , though i do add ; that the darn thing would never have had so much force applied to it !!!

What are Cement Barges used for anyway , in the marine environment ? . It seems they would make a great exclusion zone barrier !!!

Mk1's Rock , literally !!! ( Just Ask Me )

Brad
DESIREMK1

[Troppo]

Hahahaa

troppo

[SeaLady]

If the final repair job does not look as pretty as you would ideally like.
Paint something like a figurehead over it.
Or easier still..... put a sticker on it.

Done.

[Phillip]

Brad, how come I didn't get a photo of the barge???