Stripped fiberglass holes.

BroadHopper · 05-02-2010, 08:02 PM

I have some canvas snap screws that were stripped from the boat. Someone told me to use adhesive sealant. I put the cockpit cover on and it eventually came out. Does anyone have any idea how to repair the holes?

bigRazor · 05-02-2010, 08:25 PM

There's tons of information about this online. Here's one link http://www.boat-project.com/tutorials/drill.htm.

Basically you need to drill out the existing hole, fill it with an epoxy filler and then re-drill for the screw. When putting the screw back in, make sure you use 4200 or 5200 sealant.

rick35 · 05-02-2010, 09:26 PM

I use two part epoxy (in a tube) to fill stripped holes and then drill them out before screwing in the new snap. I think sealant is unnecessary. None of my factory snaps were sealed.

jrc · 05-03-2010, 09:30 AM

I use a paste epoxy like Marine tex. Mix up a little, generously butter the threads and back of the snap. Push the screw in and hold it in with scotch tape. Next day take the tape off and your done. Since your going to mix up too much epoxy, check around for a few more snaps that are loose, fix them at the same time.

Pine Island Guy · 05-03-2010, 10:28 AM

i've used the JRC approach with success. Also have pushed some of the epoxy into the hole first which hopefully creates some substance behind the fiberglass to help avoid future "pull through"...

-PIG

BroadHopper · 05-10-2010, 09:02 AM

I called up the Marinetex website and there is a how to on stripped screw holes. It is pretty much the same schedule as bigrazor pointed out. Went to West Marine in Portsmouth to pick up the putty. God I have a love hate relationship with the store! It has everything I need and I can not walk out of that store without buying something else!

Thanks for all the tips!

lawn psycho · 05-10-2010, 10:13 AM

broadhopper, maybe take some photos of the project and post to the forum?

codeman671 · 05-11-2010, 01:03 PM

I was recommended to use 5200 Fast Dry. I am going to try it this weekend. Our new boat arrived from Ohio last week with a number of the screws pulled out. The hauler left the canvas on and wasn't supposed to. I picked up a tube last night.

05-02-2010, 08:02 PM	#1
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,562 Thanks: 3,180 Thanked 1,098 Times in 791 Posts	Stripped fiberglass holes. I have some canvas snap screws that were stripped from the boat. Someone told me to use adhesive sealant. I put the cockpit cover on and it eventually came out. Does anyone have any idea how to repair the holes? __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

05-10-2010, 09:02 AM	#6
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,562 Thanks: 3,180 Thanked 1,098 Times in 791 Posts	Marine Tex I called up the Marinetex website and there is a how to on stripped screw holes. It is pretty much the same schedule as bigrazor pointed out. Went to West Marine in Portsmouth to pick up the putty. God I have a love hate relationship with the store! It has everything I need and I can not walk out of that store without buying something else! Thanks for all the tips! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

05-02-2010, 08:25 PM	#2
bigRazor Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pelham, NH Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	There's tons of information about this online. Here's one link http://www.boat-project.com/tutorials/drill.htm. Basically you need to drill out the existing hole, fill it with an epoxy filler and then re-drill for the screw. When putting the screw back in, make sure you use 4200 or 5200 sealant.

05-02-2010, 09:26 PM	#3
rick35 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bear Island/Merrimack Posts: 807 Thanks: 58 Thanked 203 Times in 130 Posts	I use two part epoxy (in a tube) to fill stripped holes and then drill them out before screwing in the new snap. I think sealant is unnecessary. None of my factory snaps were sealed.

05-03-2010, 09:30 AM	#4
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I use a paste epoxy like Marine tex. Mix up a little, generously butter the threads and back of the snap. Push the screw in and hold it in with scotch tape. Next day take the tape off and your done. Since your going to mix up too much epoxy, check around for a few more snaps that are loose, fix them at the same time.

05-03-2010, 10:28 AM	#5
Pine Island Guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: pine island of course! Posts: 406 Thanks: 243 Thanked 246 Times in 112 Posts	i've used the JRC approach with success. Also have pushed some of the epoxy into the hole first which hopefully creates some substance behind the fiberglass to help avoid future "pull through"... -PIG

05-10-2010, 10:13 AM	#7
lawn psycho Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: On the move... Posts: 987 Thanks: 113 Thanked 248 Times in 133 Posts	broadhopper, maybe take some photos of the project and post to the forum?

05-11-2010, 01:03 PM	#8
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,440 Thanks: 219 Thanked 798 Times in 476 Posts	I was recommended to use 5200 Fast Dry. I am going to try it this weekend. Our new boat arrived from Ohio last week with a number of the screws pulled out. The hauler left the canvas on and wasn't supposed to. I picked up a tube last night.