Structural Impact Damage

Structural impact damage offers a different set of challenges than cracks and gouges.

Minor bumps and chips that don't penetrate past the fiberglass cloth layer are purely cosmetic, and should be dealt with as outlined in these pages. Severe impacts often damage the hull's core as well as the fiberglass and finish. Repairs to the core must be made before getting into the fiberglass repair. Often the core can be repaired by filling the void with a thickened fiberglass resin. Other times, the core should be replaced in-kind. In all cases, the area should be dryed-out. If the hull has soaked up a lot of water, you may need to take additional measures to dry out the hull.

Circulating air is the best way to dry out a hull. DO NOT use a heat gun or heater to accelerate the process. High heat will break down the chemical bonds of your fiberglass hull! Be patient here.

The specifics of drying hulls is beyond the scope of this article, but if you have any questions, let me know, and I'll give you some advice. (This will be the subject of a future article!)

After the core repair is done, follow the same procedure for repairing fiberglass cracks and gouges.