Guides for boat owners
Repairing and maintaining the boat
Hull, deck, windows and canopy. What you can do yourself and when you need a boatyard.
Repairing gelcoat: scrapes, stone chips and cracks
How to repair gelcoat yourself: assess the damage, sand, fill with gelcoat filler, sand in stages and polish. And when it is a job for the boatyard.
Gelcoat, topcoat, flowcoat or paint: what's the difference?
Gelcoat, topcoat, flowcoat, varnish, primer and antifouling explained. What cures in air, what works with epoxy and what to choose for stone chips, a worn surface, the whole hull and the bottom.
Repairing holes and cracks in a fibreglass boat: step by step
How to repair a hole or crack in a fibreglass hull with glass fibre and epoxy: grind a 12:1 bevel, laminate in layers and finish. And when to leave the job to a boatyard.
Polyester or epoxy: which resin should you repair your boat with?
Polyester or epoxy for your GRP boat? Differences in adhesion, mixing, temperature and glass fibre, and which material suits which repair.
Osmosis in GRP boats: recognising the blisters and choosing a fix
How to recognise osmosis in a GRP hull, measure moisture and choose between waiting, repairing individual blisters or doing a full osmosis treatment.
Soft deck: moisture in the sandwich core and how to fix it
Soft or spongy deck on your GRP boat? Find the moisture in the balsa or foam core, dry it and inject epoxy, or replace the core. Plus how to seal deck fittings.
Repairing an aluminium boat: leaking rivets, cracks and holes
Repair leaking rivets and seams, cracks and small holes in an aluminium boat with tough epoxy. Plus when welding or new rivets are the better choice.
Removing and sanding antifouling: methods, sandpaper and protection
Removing old antifouling or sanding before a new coat: which methods the Swedish Transport Agency recommends, which sandpaper to choose and how to protect yourself and the ground.
Seal leaking deck fittings with Sikaflex
Dripping in at a cleat, a rail or a hatch? Here's how to remove the fitting, clean, rebed it with the right sealant and protect the deck core from water.
Replacing a window on your boat: acrylic, sealing and scratches
Is a window leaking or cracked? How to replace an acrylic window, bond and seal with the right sealant, clean without damaging the plastic and remove scratches.
Teak decks: washing, oiling or leaving them be, and repairing the seams
How to care for a teak deck: wash along the grain, avoid pressure washers and harsh cleaners, decide whether to oil, and repair seams that have come loose.
Washing and waterproofing the boat canopy: mould, stains and windows
How to wash your boat canopy yourself, remove mildew, reproof it so it repels water again and look after the windows and zips.
Polishing and waxing your boat: from dull to glossy gelcoat
Washing, rubbing compound, polish and wax. What order to do things in, which machines work and how often a gelcoat boat needs waxing.