JB Weld???

[rgranger]

Anyone have experience using JB weld to fill in dinks in the hull? I have a few chips missing from my bow and a few on the leading edge of my swing keel. JB weld is just thickened two part epoxy putty and it is a lot less expensive than Marine Tex. I've used it to fix a crack in the oil pan on my truck with success so.. what is the collective wisdom of using this below the water line? I only leave my boat in the water a week at a time so my gut tells me this should be fine but ... if this is a colossal mistake I'd rather learn that from you all instead of first hand.

 

[bria46]

If it's metal I have found it great.

 

[Water Runner]

Sand the area to rough it up, let it set slightly once mixed so that it 'sticks' to the vertical surface and go for it!

The smoother the edge the better, as long as the boat never gets below freezing the jb weld should last a good couple years!

 

[Dan Hill]

I've used it on an old pool strainer basket that was underwater all the time, with chlorine involved. By the time I replaced it, it was mostly JB Weld and it never leaked or loosened. Love the stuff!

 

[RAD]

My experience with dings in the fiberglass is to use white Marine Tex cause it looks much better and its a quick fix and sands out nice......it does cost more but in the long run I think its worth it

 

[Ross]

Another opinion for what it is worth. If you use the stuff and it falls out what is the harm?

 

[Tom J]

I've had good luck using gel-coat filler (like Bondo) in the dings and then gel-coat repair kits to match the repair. Lot easier to sand than EB or Marine-Tex, I think.

 

[Ross S]

No experience with JB weld on a boat repair...but I did use it to repair a gas tank once and it worked.

I had a gouge in my boat below the waterline due to a trailer mishap. I used Marine-Tex to repair it and it's held up well for me.

 

[Ray Bowles]

I've used JB Weld many times in the past 40 years on many mechanical, metal items. It is designed to work on and with metal. I think that using either a gel-coat product or marine bondo would be much better in the marine enviroment. Really, we're talking less than $15.
Ray

 

[simpsoned]

Agree with Ray...use JB Weld on metal, and something like bondo (use the professional blend however) on fiberglass...I have a wood Rhodes Bantam, and bondo worked great for the screw holes and countersink fills...on my Newport, I had a couple of dings and it filled in great...sand it then paint it...you be done...
Ed
skipper, "Das Dawg haus"
"I'm the skipper, when my wife lets me"

 

[rgranger]

Thanks Guys... I appreciate the first hand info. BTW: I've used JB on metal also (cracked oil pan) but the tube does say it is designed for metal, wood, fiberglass or plastic. I've just never used it on anything but metal before. I have used plenty of Bondo products but all above the water line. Advice from this list and also from Don Casey's book says to never use auto bondo below the water line. ???? Figure there must be good reason so I haven't. But I do have a few dinks to fix on the swing keel so I wanted to be sure... the pool basket story seems compelling so I think I'll give it a try. I know I'm not saving a lot of money but JB is available at WalMart so, I can buy a small amount and if it is not enough, I can go buy more. If I order it on line, I'll buy more than I think I'll need and there is where the wasted money comes into play.

Fair winds,

r

 

[Winkfish]

I've used it on fiberglass, and it worked great. Not below the water line, but where it gets a lot of water (spray and rain) - no problems.

 

[Ray Bowles]

At W-mart in their boating section they will have marine bondo. If not there then in the auto dept because that is where I bought mine. It is used for auto/marine and is waterproof.
Ray