I’ve got a glass fin that took a hit (dropped on the concrete. Like most damage, it had nothing to do with the ocean.)
The leading edge has a very fine delam wihch won’t pose any funtional or structural problems, but I’d like to fix it cosmetically. My thought is to really thin some resin (preferrably epoxy, but poly is possible) and try to wick it in there. So far I’ve had no joy. I can’t seem to lever it open any with a knife tip either.
Perhaps I could super-heat the fin, then hit it with very thin resin on cool down. I’m dubious though if such an insignificant volume would have enough expansion and contraction to do much.
Since it is such a tight, small area you’re working with, I’d suggest trying to get some styrene inside which will help to hide the weave. Since it’s an impact you’re dealing with, the fiberglass has been shattered and the only real way to fix it is to sand it off and reglass but that’s pretty difficult when the ding is inside of the fin. Styrene, resin the little open area and sand to match the double foil.
Are you suggesting flooding it with styrene then sealing it in with resin? Or do you mean use styrene thinned resin?
I think you’re spot on - sanding right into it is the real way to fix it, though the cosmetic result would be worse, defeating the point of this particular repair.
I’d try some superglue to wick in. I know there are some locktite products that specifically “wick in” to threads and gaps (but maybe they arent clear) it might be structural, but not pretty.
It’s a fin. All fins take hits and look like that eventually. Do as FGH said and all will be fine. Who cares whjat your fin looks like. Make sure to sand down any rough fiberglass that might cut you
Insane, yup, it’s just a fin and it works just fine as is. As much as anything, this repair is adding practices to the mental tool box. That, and a mate dropped good cash on it only a few months ago.
Yeah, since I make all my own shit, and I’m a bad glasser, I’ve gone after this before. I say scuff it up on exterior til you can just see dry weave. mask it off a bit, and set it so you can soak some SLOW curing poly resin in. I have mixed so slow, and it always eventually comes around. As far as cosmetic vs. structural, you want to fix it, you want to learn how to fix it, and that is all there is. You will never lose by experimenting, asking questions, and going after problems that captivate your imagination! Good luck!
P.S. I have been making some fins from scratch. Really fun and a great way to practice w/o breaking the bank! Now is a great time to get it on, while your gear and glass are at the ready!
Cheers Smokey, on the new fins wagon too. This particular fin is a nice case study for fin foiling, as the non-tinted matt finish glass shows the foil/contours like a salmon fillet.
