Reglassing The Entire Hull

[Tommy_McCain]

I was watching a Boat Works Today YouTube video where he laid a layer of fiberglass over the entire hull of a small sailboat. I have an old boat I paid $150 and it has a crazy amount of cracks. I am thinking about attempting to lay a layer of glass over the entire hull.

Has anyone attempted this before?

I know I am trying something risky but with $150 in the boat, I'm not worried about screwing it up. Plus, I want to learn more about the repair process.
Let me know.
Tommy

 

[beldar boathead]

Older Sunfish tend to be heavier, and putting a layer of fiberglass, fairing compound and paint on it is going to make it much heavier and it won’t be a cheap proposition.

 

[Charles Howard]

You have an older boat. I would airtest and fix the leaks and go sailing. If you want paint it. You want the boat light and smooth for performance. Weight is a bad thing.

 

[Tommy_McCain]

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

[andyatos]

I have an old boat I paid $150 and it has a crazy amount of cracks.

Got any pictures you can show us of your boat? Those crazy amount of cracks may just be the gelcoat surface.

Cheers,

- Andy

 

[Tommy_McCain]

Yeah I'll get some pics up. I also have a couple loose flotation blocks I'm resetting with marine foam this weekend. Those loose blocks and flexing hull caused a lot of the cracks.

 

[signal charlie]

We've fixed a lot of Sunfish with extensive damage, and one of only two that we took to the dump had been covered with a layer of fiberglass. You'll never get that anywhere close to the smooth finish that you want, and the weight of the cloth, epoxy, fairing compound, primer etc...adds way too much to the hull.