How to repair a hole in a fiberglass boat when it continues to seep water?

[Mary K]

We have a small hole on the bottom of our boat. It will not stop seeping water to fix it. It has not been in the water since last fall ! We have a bondo fiberglass repair kit, We thought it was dry and put one layer on. Went back the next day to do another layer and it was wet and still seeping water. We have been waiting forever for this boat to dry to fix it. Is there anything that we can fix it with while its wet ?

[JT]

I guess you will just have to wait for it to dry out. Try this, cover the boat put in a low wattage bulb,then wait for it to dry,get another F/G kit and it will fix your problem. Good luck.

[robert w]

go to sporting and get fiber glass paint dry dock your boat for two days put in water or launch it and wala no lekeage,r,g,w

[wulfman]

Depending on how much water has leaked in and absorbed into the foam in the hull getting the water out might cost more in time and money than its worth. Your best bet is to raise the boat untill the hole is at a higher point that way the water will not seep toward the hole. Try another fiberglass patch then.

[David B]

Do not use BONDO..(which is polyester resin) to repair...You need to use Epoxy resin. Polyester resin is fine when you build a boat, but for repairs get a West systems epoxy kit. The nice thing about expoxy is that it generates heat while it cures which will help dry out some of that moisture. Before you start tho, I would put a heat lamp on the area, or a heat gun, (use care to not get anything too hot) to dry our as much moisture as possible. Make sure you rough up the area where the leak is so that the repair will stick. West systems has video and phamplets to show you how to use it. You can use filler to thicken the epoxy and even lay down new fiberglass cloth to reinforce the area. Epoxy can be blended and sanded with grinders and sand paper to blend in with your hull shape. Consider which side of the hull you want to "plug" Sometimes it's best to do the inside. I repaired a front keel area on a bass boat that was worn thin by someone pulling the boat up on sand or rocks. The repair has "stuck" and not leaked since.