What is that stuff and can I fix it?

[bobk]

The weather boards below the hand rail on our 48MY are showing signs of water intrusion at the lower edges in some places. So far the inside surfaces are ok, just some peeling on the outsides. What is this stuff made from and can it be repaired with epoxy filler and repainted? The stuff, including the curved corners feels like a pressboard like masonite.

Merry Christmas to all,
Bob

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Thats the stuff thats referred to here as "dodger board". If thats the same stuff my cockpit walls are, I need to find a half a sheet myself. Its really 1/8" FG with a gelcoat 3/16" overall ... as near as I can figure. Need to find a distributor in Chicago, shipping would be a killer! ws

 

[Will]

You can order it from SAM's. Not cheap though. Maybe you two could split an order.
Will

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The curves on my FB are actually made out of aluminum. Once painted, you can't tell the difference between that and the dodger board that it mates up with.

 

[Trojan]

I have used both Aluminum and fiberglass bathroom panels. 4 X 8 sheet $29. bucks. Aluminum $150. bucks or more.


BILL

 

[bobk]

I have a hard time believing this stuff is fiberglass the way it seems to be coming apart and the way it sounds when tapped. I had FG panels on the previous boat as well as aluminum panels on the bridge. Both are very different. If this is glass, a repair would be no problem, but it really looks like masonite that has wicked in water. Other thoughts?

Bob

 

[bobk]

Thats the stuff thats referred to here as "dodger board". If thats the same stuff my cockpit walls are, I need to find a half a sheet myself. Its really 1/8" FG with a gelcoat 3/16" overall ... as near as I can figure. Need to find a distributor in Chicago, shipping would be a killer! ws

Bill, shipping might not be so bad. A couple of us have bought 4X8 Afromosia plywood panels that we had cut about in half for cabin remodeling and the shipping was quite reasonable. Maybe as a 4X8 it's high.

Bob

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

Have you considered using King Starboard?

www.kingstarboard.com

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I wish I had a sample in my hands to really see what the stuff is about! As it turns out, there is a distributor about 5 minutes from here. If I can get about 3-4 4X8 sheets, I'll reline the whole cockpit. The dodger board stuff in there now looks OK, but its been painted, and of course Bubba painted over the screws and finish washers... looks pretty amateurish!
Of course that includes side vents with air boxes to ventilate the cockpit. Its pretty slimy down there. Best wishes and hope your feeling better! ws

 

[Starman]

The Dodger Board is a phenolic resin impregnated material, very similar to a Masonite. It can be ground, glassed over with west epoxy, and repaired.

However due the the thin 3/16 it is hard to do. Not a job for the novice fiberglass person.

The price of this stuff is in the " stupid range" !!!!

King Starboard is to heat sensitive to use and requires too many supports. It will expand and contract.

My next choice would be a a material call PVC Board. It has a thin layer of PVC over a closed cell foam inside. This material can be bent and formed with a simple heat gun for those corners. It can be painted and repaired.

The price of 1/4 inch material is around 50 bucks for a 4X8 sheet.



I believe I have a couple of sheets of the original dodger board at my shop and also at the marina. I will check on this wed. morning if anyone is interested.

 

[bobk]

Paul, I haven't heard of PVC board. Where do you get it, and can it withstand the occasional bump?

Bob

 

[TedZ]

Happy Holidays all.

I have fixed a lot of dodger board over the years.

I set say a 3/4 router bit to 3/32 and essentially half lap the piece to be repaired with a new piece that has 3/32 off it also for say a couple of inches wide on each piece. Epoxy, clamp and paint. Normal fairing techniques make it look like new.

If you are hell bent on using FRP just do it on a sheet of glass to which you have "painted" release agent. No big deal but more work. That is the way i do all of my carbon fiber panels and is is easy and comes out perfectly.

Ted

 

[Starman]

Ted's method is the same as I have done, and it works well. But again having the right type of equipment and skill is the key factor. Not for the novice.....IMO.

Check out Piedmont Plastics. They are a wholesale company, but any yard should be able to get this material for you.

It is not as strong as dodger board, but it can be repaired/painted/milled very easy etc....

You can get some 1" starboard and mill some uprights in the shape of an "H" . This will allow you to slide the ends of each panel into the slot and fasten them. For connecting the end of one panel the next panel.

Give yourself a good inch of slot on both sides to insure a solid thru bolt connection.

 

[Brian Degulis]

Hey Paul how do you bend the PVC board and keep it uniform? Are you bending it over a form? How do you keep even heat on it?

Brian