Epoxy deck hatch on cracked H212?

[Tsawyer]

I have one of the plastic 212s from 2001. Three Mighty cracks end at the corners of the hatch opening on Deck. I had previously epoxied strips of glass cloth on the three cracks. Now I removed the hatch to rebed it with sealant.
Given the weakness that three cracks create at that opening, I wonder if it wouldnt be better to epoxy the hatch frame into the deck. Im using GFlex and light adhesive filler.
This would use the frame to reinforce the opening but might make further repairs more difficult. Any thoughts from experienced 212 owners would be appreciated.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Photos please. What is Gflex

 

[chuckwayne]

Dave,
Gflex is an epoxy formulated to stay flexible for use in areas where the substrate will experience bending

 

[Tsawyer]

Photos please. What is Gflex

Thanks for getting back to me.
GFlex is a West system epoxy which has a modulus of elasticity of 150000 PSI as compared to its normal epoxy which has an elasticity figure of 450000 PSI. It is formulated to adhere to Plastics as well as fiberglass cloth. It seems to me this is the ideal repair product for the 212. We shall see.

Photos will upload, hopefully.

 

[Tsawyer]

The long crack is forward port side. Starboard forward is about a foot. Starboard aft runs about 18 inches to the edge of the upper deck. Despite the cracks, which I learned, include the foam, the deck feels stable under foot and shows no sign of moving.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Most epoxies do not adhere to plastics and unless it specifies otherwise, I would stay clear. However this is a West Brother product that specifies adherence with plastics. Time will tell. However, the use of fiberglass emerersed into a specfied plastic welder like Plexus is the way to go for repair of the long crack. I would have put a V in the crack enlargening the width of the crack to accomodate a strip of glass the widths of the crack as it is built up. Once done I would then wet sand and apply a coat of plexus only and then apply a light coat of darker plastic spray paint and sand surface smooth to expose any valleys and refill those vallies. I forgot the number of the Krylon white paint to use as a final coat.

 

[Tsawyer]

Thanks for the tips. If the GFlex fails, I will try again. I had read that advise but support peopme at Gougeon Brothers, the makers of GFlex were confident.
But what do you think of my intial question? The hatch frame may provide support screwed in over sealant but may do more if expoxied in. That raises again the question whether the GFlex will adhere.

 

[Tsawyer]

Too answer my own question, I think I'll use the sealant. But first I'll finish taping the ends of the three cracks.
If the cracks reappear, I may need to remove the hatch to make another repair.