Fiberglass Boat Repair and Restoration

Polyester over epoxy
Testing the effectiveness of polyester gelcoat applied over an epoxy repair below the waterline.

WEST SYSTEM epoxy for fiberglass repair
Restating the case for epoxy and its suitability for polyester fiberglass repair.

Rebuilding a rudder
How one reader put a new rudder on an old shaft and improved the performance of his sailboat.

Repair non-skid and get professional results
Use Gibco Flex-mold to cast matching non-skid patterns when making deck repairs.

Custom fiberglass boat repair
Repairing damaged fiberglass boats for the Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

Repairing machined holes in fiberglass
The repair method depends on the hole diameter, the laminate thickness and the consequences of the repair's failure.

Replacing damaged bulkheads
Replacing water-damaged plywood bulkheads with bulkheads made of G-10 laminate.

Creating a non-skid deck
A practical and relatively easy alternative to teak decks.

Installing a bow thruster
A photo record of the bow thruster installation on his 26' sportfisherman.

Fiberglass deck repair-Part 1, Replacing damaged balsa core
Repairing the deck of a 1981 Pearson Flyer.

Damian McLaughlin rebuilds Arion
McLaughlin details the rebirth of a historic Sidney Herreshoff fiberglass sailboat

Repairing individual and early stage gelcoat blisters
Using a high-density filler for quick blister repairs

Keeping your boat dry for livability and longevity
Ventilation for an older fiberglass boat

New window frames for STARDUST
Casting new aluminum filled epoxy frames

Wooden Boat Repair and Restoration

Repairing rotted topmasts on Appledore IV
The right way to "spruce up" the rotted sections of masts from an 85' topsail schooner.

Transom saving tip
A simple step that can help your plywood transom last longer.

Rebuilding an International 110
Tim Botimer wins a national championship after rebuilding a 110 that sailed in the 1941 Nationals.

Giving Bounty Hunter a new skin
How Captain Glenn James sheathed the hull of his 65' charter fishing boat and improved her performance.

Restoring the gaff rigged sloop REEB
Rebuilding a neglected 1922 sloop

Morin Boat Works
Profile of a master wooden boat builder and restorer

Metal Boat Repair and Restoration

Patch holes in aluminum boats with G/flex Epoxy
Repairing a fist-sized puncture through the bottom of a canoe with fiberglass fabric and G/flex 650.

Fix leaking seams in aluminum boats with G/flex 650
Randy Zajac demonstrates a very efective technique for rescuing older aluminum boats and canoes.

Thermoplastic Boat Repair

Repairing a Royalex™ Canoe with G/flex Epoxy
Putting G/flex and plastic bonding techniques to the test on a severely cracked canoe made of ABS.

D-ring pads and G/flex Epoxy
A bonding experiment opens up new possibilities for attachments to HDPE boats.

Modifying and Customizing Boats

How to build a set of planer boards
A successful planer board design to help fishermen achieve successful trolling.

Installing a removable hatch
Tom Pawlak documents the installation of a hatch that was designed to be temporary yet leak proof.

Depth sounder installation
A good method to assure your transducer makes good contact with your boat's bottom

Installing a teak deck on Zatara
Step-by-step installation of teak planking on a 50' sailboat.

Building an efficient icebox
You can build your own efficient custom icebox with WEST SYSTEMŽ epoxy

Wood/epoxy composite tank guidelines
Building custom storage tanks with wood and WEST SYSTEM epoxy

Building a leeboard bracket
Designing a leeboard for a folding kayak

A nose for speed
Adding a nose cone to an outboard for improved speed

Molded plastic boat repairs
A repair method for molded canoes and kayaks

Bonding a skeg to a polyethylene kayak
Modifying a whitewater kayak for open water

Evolving the sailing canoe rig for cruising
Designing a rig for maximum efficiency