Homemade Repair Ideas for Boat Hulls

Boat owners encounter many repair issues from replacing electronics and rigging to damage to the hull itself. The hull is several inches thick but can be penetrated by hitting sharp or hard objects just below the waterline and in collisions with other boats. Repairs to hull damage are expensive but boat owners, armed with the proper knowledge and repair items, can fix hull damage themselves.

  1. Repairing Fiberglass

    • Pull the boat from the water and secure on land. Most modern boats are made of fiberglass. If the hole is larger than one foot, seek the services of a boat repair company because structural damage may have occurred. For smaller holes, using an electric saber saw, cut out the damaged part and file the edge inward at a 45 degree angle.

    Materials and Steps

    • Cut out a piece of cardboard, plywood or aluminum slightly larger than the hole. Wrap it in plastic wrap and tape it over the hole on the outside of the boat. Add a layer of gel coat to it. Cut several pieces of fiberglass. Working from the inside, layer the fiberglass over the hole and coat each layer with a resin mixture for use with fiberglass. Grind the edges of each layer with a sander to make sure the epoxy holds.

    Finishing the Job

    • When dry, remove the outer piece covered in plastic, sand and buff the repair area. Prime, paint and wax until the repair matches the surrounding hull surface. For a detailed view on how to make fiberglass repairs, see the resource document "Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance."

    Scrapes and Gashes

    • Clean the scrape with soap and acetone. Using epoxy-based fiberglass resin fill the blemish, let it dry, sand, buff and cover with gelcoat. If necessary to hide the repair further, paint and wax the area.

    Wood or Metal Repairs

    • Boats made from plywood or aluminum that suffer holes in the hull can be repaired by cutting a piece of matching materiel larger than the hole, riveting, welding or bolting it over the hole and sealing with waterproof epoxy. Wood and aluminum do not have multiple layers like fiberglass and only require a few pieces of repair material. Using glass cloth with epoxies can also be used to strengthen a patch made to a wooden boat.

    Rubber Boats

    • Inflatable boats that develop leaks can be repaired with a vinyl patch and epoxy glues. Simply cut a piece of the vinyl and glue it on the hole. Test the spot after it dries by spraying water on it and look for bubbles. If there are none, the patch worked. If bubbles are present, air is still leaking and reapplying the patch, making sure it is flat on the hull, should seal the leak.