Fibreglass pulp

[gtflash]

The hull and deck joins on my Scorpion are a messy fibreglass pulp. What is it and how's it made. It looks a little likes shiny p40 fibreglass filler.

I want a bulky, quite strong bulk filler to add to resin, for a hatch opening that has no hull to deck join as the original compound had been cut away to fit the hatch

Thanks GT

[ribraff]

Scott Bader make a product called Crestomer which is used to bond decks to hulls, you can buy it in mastic sized containers now too which catalyse it at the same time.
You could also go the Epoxy route and use Colloidal Silica.

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by gtflash

It looks a little likes shiny p40 fibreglass filler.

What colour is it?

[gtflash]

sort of pinkish.. Obviously the boat is a few years old so Id be happy to use other stuff, just want something equivelent.

Is colloidal Silica, good at bulking?? The gap is actually between deck and hull/tank and a gap of almost 2". Epoxy would be my 1st choice, but those west sytems packs arent cheap

[ashbypower]

Originally Posted by gtflash

sort of pinkish.. Obviously the boat is a few years old so Id be happy to use other stuff, just want something equivelent.

Sounds Like Tetrasyl (sp) 2K body filler to me!

[gtflash]

Does it not absorb moisture like Plastic Padding. Found a picture of it in my old boat

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Sounds Like Tetrasyl (sp) 2K body filler to me!

Sounds like Crestomer 1196PA to me..... which is pretty good gear, but wrong for that job!

[gtflash]

ok, done lots of reading and decided I want to fill the gap, with an epoxy based product.

The gap is about 1.5-2" high and the hole where hatch was is 12"x20" ish. I can see the full length of the hull from inside, and the original bonding is only placed at key areas, around the edges, of hull and deck join, near the structual supports underside deck and near some of the deck fittings, and hatches. Basically I want to fill the hole inbetween deck and tank/hull so when a new hatch goes in, that storage area will be watertight. Additionally it will hopefully provide support under foot on the deck area.

I wondered if epoxy mixed with microfibres or above mentioned colloidal silica would be appropriate

[Dirk Diggler]

I'm not aware of any product that'll fill a 1.5-2" gap, so I'd be tempted to see If it was possible to squeeze some sections of PU foam into the gaps, then laminate over them!

If not, you could maybe use something like Crestomer 1181A or 1186PA
http://www.scottbader.com/downloads/...mer%20Pack.pdf

[kelson]

Epoxy is not all that strong by itself. When used with reinforcing fibers it has much more strength. Thickeners work well to make an epoxy that doesn't tend to run as much, but are not going to give you the structural strength that a cured fiber epoxy matrix will. I would not fill a 1-2 inch gap with just epoxy.

Assuming that the floor and the tank are strong enough for a structural bond like this I would make sure that my bonding surfaces were wide enough to support the load without creating a narrow stress line at the bond.

A gap that large, long and needing some width to the fill might be better served using pieces of birch shaped to fit. Wrap the birch lengthwise with glass and epoxy around three sides and wedge into the opening. The unglassed side would face out, but could easily be sealed too. If the gap isn't too irregular you would get a strong bond and a flexible resilient support. I would hesitate to make a long thick fill that is significantly stiffer than the tank or deck it bonds together. It is also going to be hard to get an epoxy fill thick enough to fill the gap and not sag away without being contained on both sides. A gap that big with side access calls out for fitted core. Just a suggestion.

[gtflash]

I have some closed cell foam. Already cut to shape of the hole. I'll laminate the blind side, stick it in and glass over. Appreciate the advise