Did you know that around 100 million Americans go boating every year? If you are a boat owner and are getting your boat ready for some summer fun but are not sure how to use a fiberglass patch repair kit, you are in the right place. We have put together this short guide to share everything there is to know about using a fiberglass kit for a boat repair.

Read on to learn more.

Clean the Area

Before you start applying any products on your boat, you need to clean the damaged area. You can use acetone or soapy water to remove any grease, oil, dirt, etc. Once you clean the area, allow it to air-dry or if you are tight on time, use a dry piece of cloth to wipe the area dry.

Sand Down the Area

Next, you will need to use sandpaper (80 grit) to sand down the area that is damaged. This will help remove any gel coat that is left, rust, paint, and/or primer. Once you are done sanding the area, clean it again with either soap and water or acetone.

Resin and Hardener

Before mixing the resin with the hardener, you want to have a few pieces of the fiberglass cloth cut and ready to go. Make sure that the pieces you cut are around one inch larger than the hole you are filling in.

While you mix the hardener and the resin, do it in small amounts and keep the working life of the mixture in mind, which is usually around 8 to 12 minutes (when it’s at 75 °F). You can visit here to learn more about mixing epoxy resin for your boat.

Apply the Mixture

Once everything is mixed, you will use a paintbrush to apply a coat of the mixture over the damaged area. The resin needs to cover the area plus 2 to 3 inches extra. Then, place a fiberglass cloth piece that you cut, on the spot and saturate it with the mixture.

Continue placing your cut pieces of the fiberglass cloth along with resin until the entire area is repaired.

Dry and Sand

After the hole is completely patched up, then allow the area to cure 100%. It is best if the temperature is 75 °F. Once it is done drying, use 80 grit sandpaper to sand the area and make it flush with the rest of the boat.

If there are small curves, you can use a body filler to help smooth those curves out. On the contour of the repaired area, you can use 180 grit sandpaper to blend the entire surface.

Now You Know How to Use a Fiberglass Patch Kit

As you can see, patching a hole doesn’t have to be overwhelming with our fiberglass patch guide. Now you can get your tools in order and get to work.

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