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Tuf-Weave Repair question

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Member: mirth

Last Visit: 05/22/2013 02:31PM
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Bonvicken

08/19/2012 11:03PM

oops...ran my fully loaded cross-rib Sundowner over a submerged boulder on the Horse River this summer and it made a sickening 'crack' sound...4 times. Turns out I cracked 4 of the ribs in the canoe; it did fine for the rest of the trip (all the way to Curtain Falls and back out thru Fourtown).

I emailed Wenonah regarding repair; they sent me the repair instructions and recommended I buy the $50 repair kit they sell. Their instructions recommended 5 layers of fiberglass cloth applied with polyester resin. Two questions:

1. is there any appreciable difference between what they're selling for $50 and the Bondo version for $15 at Wal-Mart?

Wenonah Fiberglass Repair Kit

Bondo Fiberglass Repair Kit

2. Will I need to let each successive layer dry before applying the next one, or can I apply all 5 layers wet?

Here's a photo of the damage...

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OldScout48

08/21/2012 02:19PM

So what they are suggesting that you do is reinforce the cracked ribs with 5 layers of fiberglass and epoxy. Did they say how long and wide the repair should be? I have purchased 4" fiberglass tape by the yard at West Marine Stores. I think the tape would give you nicer edges then trying to cut cloth. I think I would put on 2-3 layers and let them dry and then sand and then add the remaining layers. You could do all 5, but I think wetting them all out completely might be harder especially with 4 ribs x 5 layers

fiberglass tape http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=459362&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50218&subdeptNum=50219&classNum=50226

Old Scout

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ozarkpaddler

08/21/2012 06:59PM

The Wenonah kit will look better. I have repaired with the hardware store 'glass kits as recently as this spring. The 'glass tends to fray easily and the repair doesn't look as "Clean."

"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain

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Bonvicken

08/21/2012 10:42PM

quote OldScout48: "So what they are suggesting that you do is reinforce the cracked ribs with 5 layers of fiberglass and epoxy. Did they say how long and wide the repair should be? I have purchased 4" fiberglass tape by the yard at West Marine Stores. I think the tape would give you nicer edges then trying to cut cloth. I think I would put on 2-3 layers and let them dry and then sand and then add the remaining layers. You could do all 5, but I think wetting them all out completely might be harder especially with 4 ribs x 5 layers

Not epoxy, O.S., they recommended polyester resin. The instructions provided via email said to cut the cloth 1" larger than the crack, but in this case I think I should go with more overlap than that.

Thanks for the tip on the tape, I'll check it out.

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Bonvicken

08/21/2012 10:46PM

quote ozarkpaddler: "The Wenonah kit will look better. I have repaired with the hardware store 'glass kits as recently as this spring. The 'glass tends to fray easily and the repair doesn't look as "Clean."

"

Thanks, O.P., I'd rather have it look right and be a good repair than save a few bucks.

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OldScout48

08/21/2012 11:33PM

quote Bonvicken: "quote OldScout48: "So what they are suggesting that you do is reinforce the cracked ribs with 5 layers of fiberglass and epoxy. Did they say how long and wide the repair should be? I have purchased 4" fiberglass tape by the yard at West Marine Stores. I think the tape would give you nicer edges then trying to cut cloth. I think I would put on 2-3 layers and let them dry and then sand and then add the remaining layers. You could do all 5, but I think wetting them all out completely might be harder especially with 4 ribs x 5 layers

Not epoxy, O.S., they recommended polyester resin. The instructions provided via email said to cut the cloth 1" larger than the crack, but in this case I think I should go with more overlap than that.

Thanks for the tip on the tape, I'll check it out."

I would think that on this rather small repair that using epoxy wouldn't affect this repair at all.

Old Scout

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Bonvicken

08/22/2012 07:23AM

Old Scout, what are the advantages/disadvantages of polyester vs. epoxy? I assume epoxy would be stronger...

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OldScout48

08/22/2012 08:36AM

I don't have any specifics regarding polyester vs epoxy. I just know that most people use epoxy because it is readily available to most people (West System). No need to overthink this repair,

Old Scout

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ozarkpaddler

08/22/2012 09:16AM

quote OldScout48: "I don't have any specifics regarding polyester vs epoxy. I just know that most people use epoxy because it is readily available to most people (West System). No need to overthink this repair, "

A friend whom does more "Canoe work" than I tells me Epoxy resin is "Nasty stuff" to work with. Respirator, meticulous care to keep it off clothes, hands, tools, etc. My friend is a retired vascular surgeon, so when he says it's too "Meticulous" for him to mess with.....

"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain

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Guest

Guest Paddler

08/22/2012 12:36PM

quote Bonvicken: "oops...ran my fully loaded cross-rib Sundowner over a submerged boulder on the Horse River this summer and it made a sickening 'crack' sound...4 times. Turns out I cracked 4 of the ribs in the canoe; it did fine for the rest of the trip (all the way to Curtain Falls and back out thru Fourtown).

I emailed Wenonah regarding repair; they sent me the repair instructions and recommended I buy the $50 repair kit they sell. Their instructions recommended 5 layers of fiberglass cloth applied with polyester resin. Two questions:

1. is there any appreciable difference between what they're selling for $50 and the Bondo version for $15 at Wal-Mart?

Wenonah Fiberglass Repair Kit

Bondo Fiberglass Repair Kit

2. Will I need to let each successive layer dry before applying the next one, or can I apply all 5 layers wet?

Here's a photo of the damage...

"

Tricky repair due to the compound angles and curves. Clean the area up with a Dremel tool. Goal is to remove anything than can snag your fiberglass cloth. Generally 1 Layer of 6oz fiberglass would suffice. If you do follow Wenonah's recommendation, you may go either way. If you allow the epoxy to come to a full cure, be sure to sand the area to give the following lay of fiberglass something to bond to. If you don't like sanding, wait 6-8hrs for the epoxy to become tacky and add the next lay of fiberglass and wet out that layer.
Full cure = mechanical bond
Tacky = chemical bond.
Chemical bonds are stronger.
The difference in price between the two will be in the quality of the fiberglass cloth. Good luck on the repair.

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Bonvicken

08/22/2012 06:48PM

Great info, everyone. Thanks for the advice!

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