What's the best material I can use to fill this hole in a board before applying the fibreglass on top? The board lady says to use 'Divinycell', where do you get that stuff from? Any bunnings stuff that can be used which is the same? And also, can you just use any ordinary glue to glue it into the hole before shaping it down?

Any advice appreciated! :)

Get it fixed properly. Take it to Oke in Melbourne. Better to use epoxy resin to glue it in and do the job right from the start.

As above, although I've often wondered if a lightweight timber could be shaped and used as a cheap filler with a glass coat over? Would be sturdy enough.

If the board is the love of your life take the advice from Kato and get it fixed right by those in the know. If it isn't, get some expanding foam (available from Bunnings)and glass over that. On the picture it looks like the there is a crack is extending further into the board at the bottom of the V. Make sure you fix that before glassing. And DON'T use polyester resin.

Thanks. Agreed getting it done the 'proper' way is probably best. But. I want to try and do it myself this time... I've got the glassing kit etc already from surf board repairs, just need a filler of some sort, sure it won't be too complicated. This is a spare board anyway that I intend to trash both on and off water..the former is complete, now the latter!

What sort of resin did you get with the kit?

Selleys 'fibreglass repair kit', says polyester resin on it. Not good to use you think?

No. Use epoxy. It wont eat the polystyrene foam if it gets into it and is also less brittle. Although if you really don't care about the board , polyester will make the board water tight for a while.

Most fibreglass boat builders will have Divinycell and you really should use Epoxy unless you want a bigger job on your hands.

This bloke in Warragul has everything you could ever think you need to repair a board...

www.carbonfiber.com.au/index.htm

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cackland said..

Selleys 'fibreglass repair kit', says polyester resin on it. Not good to use you think?

DO NOT USE

It WILL melt the nice white foam into a mess and cause lots more damage. USE epoxy resin

If the ding gets filled with expanding foam (polyurethane) the resin wont get to the white foam. I have done that before on a crap board and it is still holding together. If the board is only going to get trashed, it is the cheap way to get it on the water. However if you want to learn how to do a proper repair, do as the board lady says and the board will last longer and you will have skills for future repairs.

Thanks everyone for your help. Very useful. Will give it a crack over the weekend. I'll go get some of the epoxy resin then. Still not sure what I'll use as the filler, but there seems to be one or two options available.

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cackland said..
Thanks everyone for your help. Very useful. Will give it a crack over the weekend. I'll go get some of the epoxy resin then. Still not sure what I'll use as the filler, but there seems to be one or two options available.

Q cell is a good filler no?

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Q-cell/

Document with pics your repair job

I'd also wear a good mask!

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cackland said..

Thanks everyone for your help. Very useful. Will give it a crack over the weekend. I'll go get some of the epoxy resin then. Still not sure what I'll use as the filler, but there seems to be one or two options available.

If you are really desperate... you can simply use the single-can-self-expanding stuff.

-> completely mask-out the entire area, then punch a few holes through the mask
-> squirt into one hole, but dont overfill
-> let expand a little bit, then squirt into remaining holes.
... the idea is to completely fill the cavity, but not too thick.
-> let it dry, then sand it back

I've got some Diviny Cell if you're interested. Had to buy a whole sheet some time ago. PM me, should be home sometime over the w/end. Bayside area / Beaumaris. Just stay away from any Polyester stuff or solvents, it eats the EPS foam.

Wow..... anytime you see a hole that big your board you should also check for any marine life stuck at the bottom.
Oh and do everything that people have suggested above solid advice...... stay away from bunnings go and get the proper glassing and filler for the job!

ha yeah it is a big hole. It was originally just a little crack in the back of the board which I plugged using some marine putty. I chipped away the putty stuff and cut away a big section in the board which looked somewhat compromised. Over the weekend I've filled it with foam and glassed over with about 7 layers on the top and sides. Should be a bit more sold and certainly wont be taking on any water. That putty stuff is a good quick fix if you have no other options available or cant be bothered doing proper job.

By the way, yeah, bunnings doesn't have any of the stuff you need except cheap brushes to discard. I went to www.discountseamart.com.au/ and got the EPOXY resin and hardner. They were very helpful and even confirmed the resin doesn't have any solvents which would eat through my foam. $30 bucks in total. Whiteworths marine tried to sell me some other filler product for twice the price! And their epoxy resin kit was also very expensive ($50-60 from memory).

Anyway, will continue the sanding tonight. If it looks alright I'll upload some pictures...

Just needs a spray paint now..