Fiberglass Repair & Restoring Gelcoat

[Capt Dave]

In the coming weeks I will be bringing my '73 DSII into the garage to start prepping her for the upcoming season. Some of the upgrades I'll be doing are replacing and relocating the CB cables and upgrading the old stern mounted traveler with a mid-boom mainsail sheet assembly. My question is what is the best way to repair the fiberglass when I remove the two blocks that are on the stern, leaving screw holes and the one in the CB trunk that was either the up haul or the down haul control for the center board leaving a much larger hole? What is everyones opinion about painting and or the product Vertiglass? How can I blend in these small repairs as well as some spider cracks?

[Roger]

http://www.mississaugasailingclub.com/n ... index.html

This will lead you step by step through the process.

[Capt Dave]

Wow that sounds easy. Is it really as easy as they make it sound?

[Roger]

Fiberglassing is like carpentry, whatever you overbuild you can grind and sand down, whatever you underbuild you can fill and level. If you don't like the color you can paint it. Its that easy.

The trick is to use vinyl gloves, and disposable applicators. Popsicle sticks, and yogurt containers work well. The dust is also toxic so a respirator, eye protection, and a disposable tyvek suit are very useful. they cost about $2 each.

Also if you plan to do it in the house, AND you are married.... well fair warning! The smell permeates everything. nuf said.

One other thing, temperatures are important. You need to have 60F for the fg to cure.

[kokko]

Captain Dave:

Why bother removing the blocks? THey are otherwise innocuous and are ideally located for rigging a spinnaker.

I re-rigged my DS1 for mid boom sheeting. I replaced the existing blocks with a fiddle w/ becket and a double for a 5:1 THey is still a lot of tension on tje main, so I may go to a triple w/ beckt and a triple.

THe biggest advantage is it eleiminate that damned triangle on the stern, which would always grab my engine.

[Capt Dave]

Good advise, I would some day like to upgrade her sails. How is a spinniker rigged?

[kokko]

Here's a good guide

http://forum.daysailer.org/tech_rigguide.php

[kokko]

here's another

http://www.bobhunkins.com/mt-archives/s ... 001PDF.pdf