Fiberglass Canopy Repair

[tracecom]

I ran my fiberglass top into a tree branch and smashed the front pretty good. I priced a replacement and they wanted $400, so I am trying to patch mine with fiberglass cloth and epoxy. I think I can make it waterproof again, but I'm not sure it will stand up to the vibration. Has anyone done this repair and if so what were the results? Am I wasting my time?

 

[browns40]

Hi trace,

No reason you can't do that yourself...

If your canopy is fiberglass, I'd use fiberglass instead of epoxy for the repair... just err toward caution on like binding better to like...

Remove any delaminated material, drill out holes at the ends of all your cracks to prevent spread, fill gaps with body filler, cut 3 layers of cloth to cover your surface area, rough your surface up a good 3-4 inches over the edges of the patch area (more like 6 if you stand on it), then clean it up with acetone.

I mix it hot so I can get it done faster... remember to sand & clean wax off with acetone between each layer... for the last coat(s) you can match a gelcoat to your canopy color to get a real nice finish.

If you prep right, vibration won't be much of an issue, neither will waterproofing... now aesthetics are a whole other ball game.

 

[Soundguy]

Could he add stiffeners? like.. hmm.. fiberglass rods, resined down to the top? Again.. would kill asthetics for any helicopter pilots.. but may work ok.

This reminds me.. I need to unbend the aluminum canopy I have.. it's hit a few tree limbs too...

soundguy

 

[browns40]

Yeah, you could add some ribs made out of wood or fiberglass (NOT metal --that could vibrate out) to stiffen & strengthen... the formed fiberglass over the ribs would be what really adds the strentgh.

I may be envisioning the damage wrong, but i was figuring it was a dent 4-12 inches into the front lip with minor cracks radiating around... if bigger and you have the time & care to you could make the top incredibly strong with ribbing, edges & extra layers... depends on what you want out of it I guess.

Sounds like a fun little project: "The 1/2 ton rated top"

 

[kevincook]

It's an easy repair. The epoxy will provide a stronger repair than any polyester resin will. Cut out the damaged fiberglass and taper the edge of the good material. you may need to make a temporary form to support the first layers of glass if the entire panel is gone. Just remember you can sand the repaired area down again and start over until you are happy with the results.

Gelcoat is really made to be applied to boats in molds. If you spray on a gel coat you will need special additives for it to cure outside the mold.

Since it is likely to get scraped up again anyway, I would just paint it and then repaint in the future as necessary.

Making it waterproof will be easy.

Good Luck,
Kevin

 

[MrJimi]

Pictures would be heaps better, I been doing this kinda of stuff for a very long time
Grind both sides to a taper and clamp your parts and do one side at a time.
But most of all !! post pictures before and after and epoxy is NOT a good choice, use polyester resin
Bring it over and I'll give you a hand?
I looked at your profile to see where you live and your bashful, you did not post anything?? I live in Florida, Come on down
Jim

 

[Soundguy]

I just noticed you are in orange park... Samll world!

soundguy

 

[MrJimi]

Yes OP, what do you call central Fl.? I would think Orlando

 

[tlfbx23]

The repair would probably best be done with epoxy to wet the fiberglass. Depending on the damage, a filler may also be used. The epoxy repair would be waterproof but all resins will eventually succomb to UV radiation, so sanding and cleaning the surface with acetone before painting would give the best result. I am talking about a good marine grade epoxy, not Hardware store epoxy. Most fiberglass hulls are layed up with polyester resins but wooden boat building with fiberglass is generally done with epoxy. For info. on repairing polyester resin/fiberglass with epoxy see www.epoxyworks.com, and click on the "West System epoxy for fiberglass repair" link on the left hand column. Good Luck

 

[tracecom]

Thanks for all the input. Actually I misspoke when I said I was using epoxy. It smells like epoxy and it mixes (kind of) like epoxy, but the can says fiberglass resin.

Before I posted, I had already stuck the pieces back together by working on the underside; it seems to be holding pretty well, so I guess it's time to sand off the ridges and bumps and start on the top.

Attached is a picture of the top side. The hand sized piece just above the 25 inch mark on the yardstick was completely separated from the rest, but everything else was still attached to the main part.

I plan to paint it when I am finished, but cosmetics are secondary to having a long-lasting repair (until that next limb jumps in front of me.)

Advice appreciated.