Fiberglass & Gelcoat Repair

---

I am a graduate of an internationally recognized school of composite repair.  I have extensive experience repairing anything from "dings" on the hull (a.k.a. dock damage) to more serious structural issues such as hull punctures or recoring of deck structures.

When I walk the docks at marinas and yacht clubs its rare to find boats without at least a few dings above the waterline.  Some of these dings are purely cosmetic, but in some cases, if left untreated they can become points of water ingress leading to cracking of the laminate material underneath and more substantial and expensive repairs down the road.  I can fix these problems before they deteriorate.  

I can also take on more complicated projects.  In Spring of 2021 I rebuilt the mast step on a 1986 33' sloop; on which the original mast step was starting to rot out.

Many older rudders have some elevated moisture content within the laminate or core materials.  This is normal for older boats.  When that moisture content gets too high, rudders start to crack and delaminate (photo in the slide show below).  I can repair the cracking to keep the rudder going.  If the damage is not treated in time or if its too severe then the rudder needs to be either recored or replaced (both time-consuming and expensive).

Loose or bent stanchions?  Loose cleats?  These are safety issues which - if not addressed -  can cause damage to the boat's structure by allowing water to invade the composites structure.  I've fixed bent stanchions on several boats (see photo in slide show below) which were serious safety concerns as they probably would not hold the weight of a crew member in the event of a fall.

Many boat owners have bought "new" boats (well new to them, anyway) and wanted the old name removed from the hull.  This is a bit more complicated than simply peeling off the old lettering.  Doing so will leave a 'shadow' where the lettering used to be.  The gelcoat around the lettering has oxidized but to a lesser extent (or not at all) where the lettering used to be.  I can remove the lettering making the old name virtually invisible (before/after photo shown in the slide show below).

Whether its damage from running aground or damage caused by galvanic or stray-current corrosion at the dock, keels do need to repaired from time to time (two of my clients' keels shown in the slide show below).  This work is obviously best left for the off-season.  Call me if your keel needs some help.