1996 Winnebago Adventurer fiberglass repair question.

If the repairs were on my old rig, I would fill the hole with fiberglass repair for strength and top off with gelcoat or paint.

Auto supply stores will have the bondo stuff. A marine store will have gelcoat.

If the bottom crack is all the way through the panel and you can see the back side of the crack, I would bondo some fabric on the back side and fill the area with the bondo, then gelcoat.

At each location, you will want to grind out some of the surrounding good material to create a strong adhesion base for the bondo stuff.

You could then apply some temporary paint that almost matches or tint the gel coat layer.

This type of repair is really quite forgiving. You could also hire a mobile repair guy to do it in your driveway. I got his price ($700), already had matching paint, so did it myself (first time for fiberglass repair) for about $25.

Lots of tutorials on the internet, including varying qualities of U-Tube videos.

Deano56 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
the small ding can easily be filled with white bondo or its marine equivalent. now the large crack will be a problem. either get a professional to fix it, check boat repairs, or slap apiece of eternabond tape over it as it looks like that was done at one time.

bumpy

where do you see that Eternabond was used?

aw, shucks! Bumpy was attempting a bit of dry humor there, perhaps drawing from how he's seen things done. He thought that paint scratches were residue from eternabond.

They are paint scratches.

I've given up on dry humor because it is not as often understood on forums. :)

Deano56 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
the small ding can easily be filled with white bondo or its marine equivalent. now the large crack will be a problem. either get a professional to fix it, check boat repairs, or slap apiece of eternabond tape over it as it looks like that was done at one time.

bumpy

where do you see that Eternabond was used?

the lower break sure looks to me like there is tape stickum residue left on it.
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:
the small ding can easily be filled with white bondo or its marine equivalent. now the large crack will be a problem. either get a professional to fix it, check boat repairs, or slap apiece of eternabond tape over it as it looks like that was done at one time.

bumpy

where do you see that Eternabond was used?

the small ding can easily be filled with white bondo or its marine equivalent. now the large crack will be a problem. either get a professional to fix it, check boat repairs, or slap apiece of eternabond tape over it as it looks like that was done at one time.

bumpy

Gjac wrote:
There are a number of ways to repair those two areas, but because the top picture is in the white gel-coat I would buy a small can of white gel coat and ue it for both repairs. There are many shades of white but if you have the piece that came out you can match it close enough. . . .Good luck.

Thanks for the clarity. I don't know when the upper damage happened. I was inspecting today planning for travels this summer and saw that damage. I can check with Winnebago for that color.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Fiberglass is something I have very little experience handling and working, so this will be a good place to start.

I'll post pictures when I get the work underway.

There are a number of ways to repair those two areas, but because the top picture is in the white gel-coat I would buy a small can of white gel coat and ue it for both repairs. There are many shades of white but if you have the piece that came out you can match it close enough. I would grind the opening around the hole to remove some resin,wipe with acetone mix the gel coat and allow it to partially polymerize to where it just starts to thicken so it does not run then apply several coats to the hole. Cabasil or small chopped fibers should be mixed with the first two layers. Last layer should be pure gell coat and applied thin. Once sanded with 400-600 grit sand paper and buffed with a polishing compound you should not have to paint. The bottom crack is not a stress crack it looks like something hit the area so I would not worry about the crack growing but would sand and apply one layer of woven FG cloth wetted out with the same gel-coat to the backside if you can and grind a small V in the front side of the crack. After wiping with acetone fill the V with gel coat as in the first repair. The bottom would have to be painted to match the exiting color. Good luck.

crasster wrote:
If you want it to look perfect most likely you'll have to take it to an auto body shop or fiberglass repair shop.

The DIY method I have used, where I'd give it a B on a report card is I bought some fiberglass shower epoxy off amazon. You have to mix and mix it in your hands for a long time, and get the color just right. Apply it and it will look "pretty good". It won't be perfect.

I'm just saying that because I don't know how "perfect" of a repair you want.

Perfect as in paintable. Planning a repaint later. At this time, I have not decided to stay with the current color scheme or to do something different.

For the one below the door, should some fiberglass cloth be used?

If you want it to look perfect most likely you'll have to take it to an auto body shop or fiberglass repair shop.

The DIY method I have used, where I'd give it a B on a report card is I bought some fiberglass shower epoxy off amazon. You have to mix and mix it in your hands for a long time, and get the color just right. Apply it and it will look "pretty good". It won't be perfect.

I'm just saying that because I don't know how "perfect" of a repair you want.