deck storage boxes

[gmberkley]

My underneath deck storage boxes, one starboard, one port side, are getting a bit tired, small cracks etc, I'm sure new ones can't be purchased, has anyone done anything to beef them up, and fix minor cracks etc.
thanks

[ControlIssues32]

No but I’d like to do the same! I know that doesn’t help:).

[elad9000]

They are simple gel-coated fiberglass. Regular fiberglass repair is all that is needed. Grind out the cracks with a dremel tool, fill cracks with epoxy/glass beads, reinforce weak areas with fiberglass matt/epoxy, sand smooth and paint with awlgrip or awlcraft 2000.

[WillieC]

Excellent advice from a 28 owner. I wondered what they were made of but figured someone who knew would step in.

As usual there are two ways to approach this sort of problem. Visit Boatworks Today or whip out the checkbook. This is the perfect project for learning how to do fiberglass repair, as opposed to say, ripping out your bow eye after neglecting to remove the safety chain before attempting to bump your boat off the trailer. Not that I would know.

Once again, AOG comes through. Thanks, Dale.

[gmberkley]

i did a bit more research, West Systems makes a two part epoxy to repair plastic, I tried it, fantastic, worked great, after the repair I painted them with Krylon, came out pretty good, although no one will ever see them as they are below deck......forgot to add, my boxes are definitely plastic, not fiberglass, which explains my original post/question.

[WillieC]

Thanks for clarifying, Gregg. They looked plastic in the pic, but hard to tell.

Glad you had good results and yes, only you will see them. Like lots of things on the boats we know so intimately.

[Pitou]

i did a bit more research, West Systems makes a two part epoxy to repair plastic, I tried it, fantastic, worked great, after the repair I painted them with Krylon, came out pretty good, although no one will ever see them as they are below deck......forgot to add, my boxes are definitely plastic, not fiberglass, which explains my original post/question.

Glad that you found a solution, Gregg. You are correctthat the boxes in your boat are ABS mold injected, the same as the later model cockpit gunnel rod boxes, which I've used West Systems Six10 to repair.