3.1m Blagg RIB restoration!

Tim M · 23 April 2005, 18:42

Thought I would keep a little log of the work I'm doing to the 3.1m Blagg RIB I bought a few months ago. The story behind it was that it had been used by a marine photographer in the Solent, but had come loose from it's moorings and been washed up on a beach. This had left a rather nasty gash in the hull.

Having washed it down when I got it (and spending hours scraping the anit-fouling off), I set about cutting a hole in the floor today to gain access so I could fill the hull hole. There was a recess for a fuel tank in the floor so I cut into this; this left me with good access to the hull. I then cut all the loose/nasty bits from around the hole leaving a nice tidy gap about three inches accross.

My plan for tomorrow (if the weather is still good) is to start filling the gap with firbe glass. This should (I'm hoping) be fairly straight forward. Once it's all done I'll gel-boat over it, then anti-foul it.

Now, here's a question: The tubes are pretty worn on the tops. Rather than put wear patches on I would prefer to use hypolon paint, to give it a nice fresh all round look. I've had a look in Gael-Force but they only offer three colours (red grey and black). I rather fancy keeping the dark blue tubes. Where can I buy some blue hypolon paint? (Preferbly chealy as I'm a poor and lowly student.) Also, how much will I need?

I'll post some pics shortly!

Pete7 · 23 April 2005, 19:17

Tim, I have used the flexi paint once to patch up a dive club inflatable. Think we only bought one tin so probably 3/4L. We used black so future marks wouldn't show. The boat was painted inside the heated club room using 4" paint brushes which left brush marks in the finish, but being a dive boat weren't to fussed. However it might be better to try a small area with a fine roller if you wanted a smooth finish. You could ask the manufacturers which is the best way to apply it. Have only seen black, grey and orange for sale though.

Pete

Tim M · 23 April 2005, 19:22

Thanks Pete.

I did a search on here and it seems good preperation and a small gloss roller are the way to go. I would go for another colour, but the boat has a blue GRP spray cover. I spose' orange and blue might look quite nice! (Failing that I could paint the GRP....)

DM · 23 April 2005, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Have only seen black, grey and orange for sale though.

Inflatable Boat Supplies do it in black, grey, orange, red, yellow and white. It comes in 1litre tins which should cover 2.5 square metres.

hypalon paint

DM

slimtim · 23 April 2005, 20:45

How effective is this hypalon paint? I used some on my flatacraft and it was crap. It looked nasty and flaked off but that may have been because the paint was as old as a very old thing and I may not have prepared the surface as well I should have

Tim

Tim M · 23 April 2005, 20:55

Have decided to name the boat "Drut" after the little blue thing from "Tales from the Trap Door" (bottom right)

Louise · 23 April 2005, 21:03

Great! You are aware of what that spells backwards are you?

Just don't moor alongside any polished surfaces!!!

Tim M · 23 April 2005, 21:06

Tim M · 23 April 2005, 23:19

Quote:

You are aware of what that spells backwards are you?

Could well end up looking like that if this paint job goes wrong.....

Tim M · 24 April 2005, 18:13

The weather was good again today, so I stared on the fibreglassing. Pretty straight forward really (are latex gloves better than vinyl for this?). Just need to find a cheap source of brushes now to finish the job off!
(Used daddy's best brushes today. He won't be happy when he descoveres I presereved them in resin for him...)

Anyway, a couple of photos. First is the boat with all the dirt/writing removed from it and scrubbed down. Second is the hole I made in the floor with the first bit of fibreglass in place.

How thick should I go with the fibreglass?