The hulls of jet skis are built using fiberglass. This lightweight material is what gives these vehicles their blazing speed and high maneuverability.
However, there’s a downside to fiberglass. It is susceptible to damage when it collides with a hard object. This can lead to holes forming in your jet ski’s hull, which in turn, can cause damage to the internal parts of your jet ski.
Not to worry, repairing such damage to your jet ski’s hull is a low-cost task that can be done at home without the need to hire a professional.
Read on to find more about the materials needed for jet ski hull repair, and the steps you need to take to repair a hole in your jet ski’s hull.
What You Will Need to Repair a Jet Ski Hull
Repairing minor damages to a jet ski hull is a DIY job that can be done at home. Here’s a list of all the materials you’ll need.
- Sandpaper (rough and fine)
- Fiberglass mat, resin, and hardener
- A cup for mixing materials
- Disposable paint brushes
- Rubber gloves
- Scissors
- Acetone removing solution
- Protective gear (safety goggles, mask, and respiratory equipment)
- Gel coat
- Epoxy primer
Step-By-Step Guide to Repairing Holes In a Jet Ski Hull
Here are the steps you need to follow to repair a hole in your Jet Ski’s hull.
Before you get to work, you need to first ensure that you have all the required materials mentioned above. For the fiberglass resin, it’s recommended that you use epoxy resin since it’s durable and is optimized for fiberglass.
1. Cleaning & Sanding Around the Hole
A Jet Ski’s hull is crafted from polyester fiberglass. When damaged, this fibrous material is prone to getting contaminated. Therefore, any hole in your jet ski’s hull needs to be cleaned before you sand it.
You can clean the hole by applying soapy water, followed by a degreaser. This removes any dust or debris and sterilizes the area around the hole.
Next, proceed to sand both sides of the hull. Use rough sandpaper initially, followed by fine sandpaper in order to make the hull’s surface smooth. This will allow for an effective bond with the resin in the coming steps.
Next, dry the surface and further clean it using an acetone-soaked rag.
2. Cover the Backside of the Hole With a Fiberglass Mat
The next step is to get your scissors and cut out a piece of fiberglass mat to cover the backside of the hole in your hull. Make sure to not cut the fiberglass mat too small, it should cover the whole with at least an inch to spare.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to cut out multiple pieces of fiberglass mat for layering.
3. Mix Fiberglass Resin & Hardener
Insert the resin and the hardener into the mixing cup and use a stick to blend them together. For precise instructions on how you should do this, consult the instructions on the package the resin comes in.
Make sure to wear rubber gloves during this step as the resin is highly sticky.
It’s important to note that the resin must be applied almost immediately after it’s mixed with the hardener
4. Apply Resin to the Backside of the Hole
In this step, you need to apply the hardened resin to the hole in your jet ski’s hull using a paintbrush.
Make sure to apply the resin evenly around the hole, then place one layer of the fiberglass mat on it. Next, apply another even coating of resin on top of this layer.
Now add another layer of mat, and repeat this process for as many layers as you wish to apply.
5. Let the Resin Dry Out
You should now give the resin you’ve applied time to dry. The time needed for this to happen can be found on the container the resin you’re using came in.
You can gauge how much the resin has dried/hardened by feeling its stiffness.
6. Cover the Front Side of the Hole With Fiberglass Mat
Now that you’ve covered the backside of the hole, it’s time to do the same for the front side. Make sure to cut the fiberglass mat layers so that they match the shape of the hole as precisely as you can.
This is particularly important for the front side of the hole because it’s the side that’s going to be visible. Therefore, you want it to match the rest of the hull exactly.
7. Apply Resin to the Front Side of the Hole
Now you need to repeat the process of mixing the resin with the hardener, applying it to the hole, and layering the fiberglass mat. Again, you should give the resin time to dry and check its texture with your fingers to ensure that it has hardened completely.
8. Sand Down the Hardened Resin
Once the resin has hardened. Sand the surface to smooth it out by using rough sandpaper followed by fine sandpaper.
After you’ve sanded the resin, the patched-up hole should be evened out with the rest of the hull.
9. Apply Epoxy Primer & Gel Coat
The final step of the repair process is to apply several epoxy primer coats using a fine paintbrush. Epoxy primers come in a variety of colors, pick the one that’s closest to the color of your jet ski.
Next, let the applied primer dry out and apply multiple layers of gel coat over it. Make sure to apply the gel coat evenly over the patched-up hole.
Conclusion
Leaving holes in your jet ski’s hull uncovered can lead to further, more significant damage to the internal components of your vehicle. Repairing such damages can be very expensive.
You can easily avoid this by repairing such holes from the comfort of your own home. All you need is some inexpensive materials, and to follow the steps highlighted in this article.
Make sure to follow the illustrated steps closely to avoid any mishaps or ineffective repairs.