Household Repairs Spars broken, cracked. If the break is at right angles to the spar, better have a professional repair it. But if the break runs with the grain, coat the broken edges with epoxy glue and clamp together for 24 hours. Then sand the spar in the area of the break to remove the finish. Coat the bare wood with polyester resin used in repairing fiberglass boats. Allow it to stand for 15 minutes, then apply a second coat and allow this to stand for another 15 minutes. Then wrap fiberglass cloth tape spirally around the spar. The tape should extend for about 3" on either side of the break. Butt the edges of the tape. When this has soaked up the resin on the wood and cured for a few minutes, wrap another strip of tape over the first, spiraling it in the opposite direction. Brush on more polyester resin and let dry. Then sand lightly and apply a third coat of resin.

If you want the tape to be flush with the surface of the spar, cut a recess about %" deep in the wood around the break before applying the tape.

Leaks in centerboard trunk. If these cannot be stopped by caulking with glazing compound or any of the newer caulking compounds available from marine dealers, pull the boat from the water and overturn. Let wood dry thoroughly. Sand off any marine growth in the trunk. Then wrap a piece of wood with felt, dip in Seaprene or Vi-nylon, and thoroughly coat the trunk on the inside. The coating will dry to form a watertight, flexible seal.




Page 1 2
Home > Household Repairs > B > Boat, Sail

December 4, 2008