Fiberglass Boat Repair Workshop

For more than twenty years the Technical Staff at Gougeon Brothers have been teaching a seminar on boat repair techniques during the winter off season. Now, some of you might find the idea of a winter off season humorous. These are the people who call and ask if WEST SYSTEM® 105/206 will cure in the frigid temperatures of southern Florida where it gets down to (gasp!) 60°F at night! Just so you know, 60°F is swimming weather in Michigan.

Not to worry though — we cover this issue thoroughly during the seminar.

There are two Fiberglass Boat Repair Workshops (affectionately nicknamed Glue U) scheduled for 2012: Session 1 will be held February 8 - 9 followed by Session 2 on February 14 - 15.  These sessions are designed for marine professionals — yard pros, composite repair specialists, managers, surveyors, insurance inspectors and dealers — anyone who works building and repairing composite hulls and parts. The class is not for folks building one-off wooden boats. However, wood in composite structures and wood as a structural fiber are addressed. 

The classes are held right here at the World Headquarters of Gougeon Brothers, Inc. (where WEST SYSTEM epoxy is manufactured) in Bay City, Michigan and include both classroom lecture and plenty of hands-on projects. Students learn the best approaches to make long-lasting, cost effective boat repairs and will come away with a deeper understanding of modern composite technology. 

The cost of the workshop is only $495 and covers two days of instruction and materials, hotel accommodations for both nights, continental breakfasts, lunches each day and dinner the first night. For complete details, download a pdf of the course brochure. 

How you get here is up to you. We've got plenty of snow, so dog sleds or even reindeer are viable options. My advice: pack warm clothes.