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Topic ClosedTree branch roof damage to our RPOD 179
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jdreed@frontier.com View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Tree branch roof damage to our RPOD 179
    Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 6:08pm
While washing the top of our RPOD-179, I found damage that, I believe, to be from a tree branch that fell on the RPOD during a wind storm. 
The gel coat is broken exposing a small amount of fiberglass.  The hole damage is approx 1/8 of a inch in diameter.  with a small amount of penetration. there are several small cracks radiating out like a windshield rock ding.
I have tried to post a picture but with no luck.

Any suggestions as to how to repair this damage???  We just bought the RPod last year.  

John Reed
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 6:57pm
If it's up on the roof, I would just sand it and hit it with some fiberglass filler and spray paint.. won't look perfect, but no one can see it, and it will be fine.
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2587 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 7:09pm
If you don't put fiberglass in the area of the repair, it's susceptible to opening up again and leaking.  I suggest you watch some YouTub videos on fiberglass repair for either small boats or fiberglass trailers.
  
The best repair materials are from West Systems and they sell kits with everything you need and instructions.  They also have a bunch of videos available on the internet.  Here's a link to the kits.  You need the one for fiberglass.  https://www.westsystem.com/repair-kits/  The West System epoxies are the easiest and most forgiving to use.  If you follow the instructions, you'll have an almost invisible and durable repair that will be stronger than the original and certainly won't leak.
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Fred & Maria Kearney
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harrypodder View Drop Down
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Posts: 48 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 7:26pm
On such a small area that is not seen Look into 'Marine Tex' I have used it on fiberglass boats it is sand able and can be painted.
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2587 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 7:44pm
I've also used Marine Tex to fill holes where hardware used to be mounted, but it needs a rigid structure around it or it will crack on flexion.  For filling the holes where a clam cleat or a winch used to be, that's already a strong area it's the perfect solution.  Spread thinly, on a constantly flexing thin fiberglass roof panel, it is likely to crack and pop out of the hole.  There's just not enough "meat" around it to hold it in and keep it from cracking.  The problem that you have to overcome is the very thin fiberglass skin moving and not having enough surface contact to maintain the integrity of the patch material.
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Fred & Maria Kearney
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David and Danette View Drop Down
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Posts: 1215 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 10:58am
   Having used both I think marine tex would be easier than fiberglass resin at least I personally found marine tex easier to work with. When I used it many years ago it came in two colors grey and white, if the roof is white it would blend in and not be that noticeable. Like furpod said it is out of site no one will notice it.
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harrypodder View Drop Down
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Posts: 48 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 7:22pm
Originally posted by lostagain

I've also used Marine Tex to fill holes where hardware used to be mounted, but it needs a rigid structure around it or it will crack on flexion.  For filling the holes where a clam cleat or a winch used to be, that's already a strong area it's the perfect solution.  Spread thinly, on a constantly flexing thin fiberglass roof panel, it is likely to crack and pop out of the hole.  There's just not enough "meat" around it to hold it in and keep it from cracking.  The problem that you have to overcome is the very thin fiberglass skin moving and not having enough surface contact to maintain the integrity of the patch material.


I see your point don't have any experience with flexion only bass boat fiberglass hulls which flex and twist way more going 70mph and hitting 2ft waves then a pod ever would. Again your insight is a perspective on marine-tex he should consider maybe asking an RV repair shop or a call to FR river to see what they suggest.
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2587 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 9:10pm
Wow! Harry, you run a bass boat at 70 mph?  You are a very brave soul.  I've used Marine Tex on a sail boat and we felt like we were screaming fast if we hit 6.5 kts. with the spinnaker.  The places I found Marine Tex to really work nicely were, as mentioned above, to fill old screw and bolt holes where there was some pretty thick structural fiberglass that didn't move and to fill scratches and gouges in the gelcoat.  If you have filled a through hull penetration with a fiberglass hull thickness of less than 3/16th of an inch, about the thickness of the pod roof fiberglass, and it stayed in the hole, then Marine Tex is a far more durable product than I ever realized. 
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Fred & Maria Kearney
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2019 at 5:33pm
A person could also put on an appropriately sized patch of eternabond roof repair, and never think of it again.
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2587 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2019 at 5:55pm
Great point furpod.  I put that stuff on my recall fitted spoiler three years ago and I think it'd take me three years to peal it off.  
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
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