Testing Testing Testing

No, we are not talking about telephones.

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All boats will need maintenance at some point in their life and some repairs such as scratches, cracks or small holes you may wish to fix/repair yourself or to get in one of the GRP Boat Repairs team to help you. 

Preparing the area

Preparation is key to making sure you get a great finish, the starting point is to clean and clear the area of any chemicals or residues with acetone and making sure any loose material is chipped off and removed. 

Shallow scratches and gel coat 

The external gel-coat is the shiny, coloured resin where most of the light scratches occur. These are easy to fix with a light sand and then built back up with new gel coat. To order gel coat, contact your boat manufacturers with your model and serial numbers. 

Older vessels may struggle to get a factory gel coat, so order a colour close as possible or mix your own. 

Mixing gel coat is tricky so ensure you wear a mask, goggles and gloves. When you have your small amount of gel coat, add the hardener and add a thickening of chopped fibreglass for deeper gouges and scratches. 

Bear in mind you only have 10 – 20 minutes once you have added the hardener, so do one scratch gouge at a time. Mix really well or it will be a sticky resin, that will take days to cure. Gelcoat as with resin is affected by humidity and temperature so make sure to do test patches before committing to the real thing. 

Holes and deeper gouges

Any hole which is to be repaired will need to be enlarged. Fibreglass boats have a thick structural core of fibreglass strands impregnated with polyester resin. If you can see these fibres then you know that the damage has gone deeper than the gelcoat. 

Overfill gouges so the filler mounds slightly. You’ll sand it smooth after it cures. Curing can take between one and two hours dependant on temperature and humidity. You can test your repairs by touch, if it’s still sticky then it’s not fully cured. Once you’re fully satisfied that your repair has cured, you’ll then sand it level. 

Any repair which is below the water line must have at least 7 days to cure enough before being immersed in water. Once dried the area will need to be sanded, starting with coarse and work up to 1000 grit. To finish the job, you’ll need a professional-type buffer. 

Reinforcing Cloth and Fillers

The strength of a repair comes from the reinforcing cloth behind it, and there are three main types: 

Pressed Chopped Strand Mat

Chopped strain mat has short strand fibres held together with a resin binder. 

Woven Roving

These are long strands of glass woven into a cloth that makes it strong and able to hinge without breaking up. It is ideal for use with all resins. 

Stitched (engineered) cloth


Probably the best (and most expensive) material to work with, as it is particularly strong, and can be manipulated into very tight shapes. 

Resin

Polyester Resin  

Most GRP production boats are made from polyester resin, a cheaper option than epoxy. It starts the curing process by simply mixing in a small amount of catalyst. But [polyester resin shrinks as it cures by as much as 4%, which can put strain on a repair, 

Epoxy


Epoxy is probably more suited to repairs requiring bonding to other materials. There must be precise amounts with the hardener or the mix will be weaker. Epoxy is sensitive to temperatures and does not cure below 5°C, but if hot will harden fast. 

How GRP Boat Repairs can help 

At GRP we love fibreglass, it’s durable, strong and with a gel coat covering you will be giving your boat protection from the elements and resistance to scratches. If your repair job is too large to undertake on your own then get in touch with our team today and see if we can help. 

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Of course, you cosset your boat all the time. And if you are a pleasure mariner or indeed one who goes to sea to make a living then your boat is very high on the list for a lot of TLC.

Perhaps this is a sweeping statement but you cannot overdo preparations for winter when putting your boat to bed or keeping her in commission during the winter months.

Obviously, a great deal of how you winterize your boats depends on where she is moored or laid up.

Most of you will have tried and tested regimes, but for some, who are perhaps new to boating, this may be the first time you’ve laid up a boat of any sort, sail or power, dinghy or fifty footer.

So these few words may be of help to you.

MOORING LINES

If you plan to leave your boat afloat it goes without saying that ALL warps should be inspected, perhaps doubled up and checked for correct adjustment. Being a belt and braces person is good. It is not good practice to try to make do with one or two warps to do the job of at least four: bow line, stern line and fore and aft springs. This applies to craft moored to pontoons or docks. Those on swinging moorings have other requirements like room to swing through 360 degrees without hitting obstacles or other moored craft. Don’t forget that as the tide goes down the swinging circle gets larger. Check that the warps will not chafe through on buoy or dock rings. If you are on a drying mooring then check the bottom when the tide is out just to make sure there’s nothing your boat is going to land on as the tide falls.

Make sure your lines are not tight if you are alongside. Leave enough slack, but not too much of course, so that high winds and currents will not cause snatching. Loose but not slack warps will absorb any shocks. The springs are important and should be just that, springs.

And you can fit spring or rubber shock absorbers to your dock lines too if you like.

Damp

Arriving at your boat ashore or afloat to make sure she is safe and shipshape for the winter can be a bit of a shock if you find windows running with condensation and a smell like nothing on earth.

We think one of the most important steps you can take to make sure this doesn’t happen is to get your boat a dehumidifier. They don’t cost the earth and they work magic on the conditions inside your boat.

It’s not just unpleasant to have a smelly and dank boat, it is also damaging to everything from the headlining to the bunks. Of course, there’s always the option of taking all soft furnishing items home for the winter if you have room.

Check your engine oil

It may be the end of your sailing season, but check the oil level anyway. Don’t put it off. Diesel engines usually run and run without giving any trouble, but they do love a change of oil regularly and attention to the associated filters.

Be kind to your engine and it will serve you faithfully.

And don’t forget the engine hours log too for the regular services.

If you have an outboard, either as a back-up on a small yacht, or to power your tender, regular servicing, according to the manufacturers’ instructions, is a must.

Standing and running rigging 

If your mast is stepped or un-stepped now is the time to make sure the standing and running rigging is in good repair. Don’t take chances. If any item looks doubtful double check or replace it.

You will have inspected the running and standing rigging at the beginning of the season and probably at intervals too, but now is the time to take any remedial action when the boat is not in use.

Pay attention to terminals, shackles and bottle screws and the deck fittings as well. If you wrap your bottle screws there could be corrosion lurking underneath, so check and re-wrap them if they need it.

Do the sails need the attention of the sailmaker? Are the bolt ropes serviceable? Check the headboard – they can jam. Check the blocks and cleats. Service the winches.

Jobs done now will save time and probably expense too when next season starts.

Test your electronic equipment

These days there is a host of electronic equipment that helps us to make sure we end up where we expect to! Check and test it! Many rely heavily of their electronic navigation equipment so it makes sense to ensure that it works faultlessly. Damp and salty conditions are not the friend of electronics so the dehumidifier will ensure these have the best possible chance of remaining in good operational condition.

Underwater Fittings

Winterising ashore provides a good opportunity to check all the underwater fittings, such as seacocks and rotating logs. These items are out of sight and may be out of mind. If afloat, check the filters and weed traps.

Inspect the hull

Undertake a careful check around the hull for any cracks, chips, blisters or scrapes. Have these repaired especially if you are in for a busy season in 2021.

Ideally you should clean and polish the hull.

Inspect the antifouling. If it is a self-eroding type it may need refurbishing or removing and replacing completely. A pressure washer will save a lot of hard work!

Inspect the safety equipment

Life-jackets are the most basic yet most important form of safety equipment for water users. Many will buy a new life-jacket and expect it to perform well in an emergency, but unfortunately they are often stored badly and left unchecked. The damp salty environment encourages corrosion so make sure you lightly rinse them after use. (Don’t submerge them!) Allow them to dry completely before storing. Make sure you keep a check on the expiry date of the jacket’s internal gas cylinder as well as previous service dates as this is the key to ensuring a life jacket does its job!

Other safety equipment such as liferafts, lifebuoys, man overboard recovery devices, flares and fire extinguishers, should be checked, serviced or replaced if needed.

This list is by no means comprehensive. You know your boat better than we do, so far be it for us to instruct you on how to keep safe.

Yes, some jobs are a chore, others are a pleasure, but chore or pleasure they are all important.

Have a stress-free winter.

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Lockdown and damage the economy; don’t lockdown and risk lives.

Follow a regime and stay as safe as possible. Rigorous hand washing, social distancing, avoid crowds, wear a mask.

 Since the last time we wrote our blog on the eleventh of April in the midst of the first wave of pandemic we might have been forgiven to think that the spectre was receding.

Last time, the sun was shining. This time it is still doing its best to cheer us all up.

But this time it seems that far from receding, the danger is very much out there and causing even more heartache and tragedy.

Cases seem to be increasing and the second lockdown will be upon us within hours.

But the advice seems muddled and confusing.

There are fourteen new national restrictions applying to England.

They range from ‘stay at home’ through ‘where and when you can meet’ to ‘financial support’

For the full story Go to Coronavirus (COVID-19) National Restrictions from November 5.

Like last time we wrote this blog, we must not forget that Our National Health Service is not just ‘THE NHS’. It is an army of ‘people’ who, ignoring the danger this virus poses to them, their families and others who care for us when we are unwell, continue to work tirelessly to ensure our wellbeing.

In practice this all means that, first and foremost, we must adhere to the government’s instructions.

Best regards. Stay safe.

Julian Willmott

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We are doing our best under the current difficult circumstances to maintain our usual level of service to all our customers, whether past, current or future.

In practice this means that, first and foremost, we and those we service must be protected from corona virus by adhering to the government’s instructions.

That means simply use our website CONTACT US facility, which is monitored continually. Or telephone if you need more immediate contact.

We will respond as best we can keeping in mind the constraints under which we have to work.

Please be assured GRP will do its best to meet your needs.

Best regards. Stay safe.

Julian Willmott

The post A MESSAGE FROM GRP BOAT REPAIRS TO ALL OUR PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE CUSTOMERS appeared first on GRP Boat Repair Specialists.

The team were approached by a client needing some support in a new investment. The client bought a Hunton 43 in Monaco, but it was clear she needed some extensive tender loving care.  

Team GRP set to work fixing, designing, painting and more resulting in her being sent back to the client even better than she was originally! 

A comprehensive refit and refurbishment of the upholstery, teak decking, hull, superstructure, interior, electrics and below the waterline was carried out. All elements were given detailed attention, the team working hard to bring each back to its original state.

The original hull surface was re-conditioned and finished in black. The superstructure has, quite fittingly, been matched to the colour of the owner’s Aston Martin DB11!

Have a similar project on your hands that you need our help with? Make sure you get in touch.

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This environmental bombardment can lead to a rapid degeneration of the gel coat surface. GRP uses all the latest techniques combined with years of experience to offer an on-yacht service providing full surface restoration to bring your jacuzzi or pool back to its ‘as-new’ condition. With our minimal disruption promise you can get back to yachting life as soon as possible! 

No hassle and minimal disruption

With as little hassle and disruption as possible, we arrange for crew onboard to erect a tent over the jacuzzi or pool and remove all the hardware. This would include the jet nozzles, lighting, filter housing and controls. During this time, we arrange for all the required materials to be shipped to the yacht in advance of the arrival of our specialist team.

Our services are all inclusive

• We’ll prepare the existing gel coat by abrading all surfaces.
• We can apply a new laminate with vinyl ester resin.
• We can make sure to match all our repairs to the existing colour.
• If required we can apply a white Isopol gel coat.
• We’ll match the intricate profiling and finish with progressive 3M wet and dry sanding up to 1,500 grit abrasion.
• We can polish using 3M fast cut compound and ensure residue is removed. This it to ensure it is ready for the application of the ceramic coating

Pre-season maintenance

We also provide a cost-effective annual pre-season inspection and re-polishing service to ensure your jacuzzi or pool is always at its very best.

This work carries a 12-month warranty.

If you need our help to restore your yacht pool or jacuzzi to its original standard then don’t hesitate to get in touch!

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A fleet of 10 Sunsail yachts sailed into Universal Marina, GRP headquarters, at the beginning of the year to experience an expert spruce-up before heading back on to the water for the spring season.

The world-class yachts are largely used for luxury sailing holidays and corporate racing events.

Having now completed their routine annual maintenance under the expert eye of the GRP team, the boats are off on adventures across the UK and in the Med as this new 2019 season begins.

As well as routine maintenance we can also conduct major repair work to damaged boats and, if needed, complete refits. Make sure to get in touch to see how we can help.

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You might have a tried and tested regime in how best to prepare your boat after the winter, but for some, who are new to boating perhaps, this may be a first. We’ve put together a few tips for things you don’t want to miss. 

Check your engine 

Diesel engines will usually run and run without giving you any trouble at all, but like all engines, they will need a regular change of oil.

You may think this is a bit of a chore, but if left unchecked this could result in a loss of power or even engine failure which could be catastrophic! 

Outboard servicing is an absolute must; whether this is for your main engine on a Powerboat or RIB, or if you have an outboard for your tender, or as a backup to the main engine in a small yacht, it should be serviced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Check the standing and running rigging 

If your boat has been stored out of the water during the winter period, you may have had the mast unstepped and the standing and running rigging inspected. 

Before getting back on the water ask yourself the following questions: 

1. Have you checked the condition of bottle screws and other similar hardware? (These could have corroded underneath during the winter period) 
2. Do the sails need the attention of a sailmaker? 
3. Do the bolt ropes meet a good standard? 
4. Has the mainsail headboard been checked? (These can jam) 
5. Have you serviced the winches? 

Inspect the hull 

Undertake a careful spot check around the hull for any cracks, chips, blisters or scrapes. These will need to be repaired, especially if you know you’re in for a busy season! Ideally you should thoroughly clean and polish the hull anyway. 

If your boat is anti-fouled you will need to check this. If it’s a self-eroding type it may need refurbishing or even replacing completely before heading back into the water. A pressure washer will save you a lot of hard work – we can vouch for this!

Check the safety equipment 

Lifejackets are the most basic but important form of safety equipment for water users. Many people will buy a shiny new life jacket and expect it to perform well in an emergency situation, but unfortunately, these are often stored badly and left unchecked. 

A damp and salty environment is perfect for corrosion to develop so make sure to lightly rinse lifejackets after use (don’t submerge them as this can result in a bit of a bang!) Allow them to dry completely before storing. 

Make sure you also keep an eye on the expiry date of the jacket’s internal cylinder as well as previous service dates as this is key to ensuring the life jacket will do its job! 

Other safety equipment such as life rafts, lifebuoys, man-overboard recovery devices, flares and fire extinguishers should also be checked, serviced or replaced if needed. 

Don’t forget the underwater fittings 

Seacocks and rotating logs are often forgotten about — a classic case of out of sight out of mind. 

Before getting your boat back in the water, you have a great opportunity to check all the underwater fittings to make sure they’re all in working order before submersion again.

This list is by no means comprehensive. You know your boat better than we do and what steps you need to take to keep it, and yourself, safe on the water. 

However, we do hope you’ve found this useful and, as always, please get in touch for any help, advice or repair work! 

Have a great season! 

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