SkunkBoat
God
Thought about doing this for years on my V20. Finally tried it on the 265. Plastic tubs have cracked brittle rims. Missing large sections of rim.
Made new rims from glass cloth and epoxy. The idea is to match the shape . Use clear packing tape to cover the opening. (Epoxy doesn't stick to packing tape). Make sure there are no leaks.
We added strips of 1/4" plywood to make a gap for clearance of the tub. Tape goes over ply also. There must be NO bare plywood or gelcoat. COVER with tape.
For god's sake cover the batteries!
I used thin glass cloth that you find in autoparts store. Need two packs of 1 sq yd to do the complete job on two tubs from a 265 express. You don't need 1708 or glass mat. You want thin cloth that takes a shape and doesn't get strings everywhere. You are not going for strength you are trying to get a shape.
Precut your strips..maybe 2.5"-3" wide and lengths to overlap the corners. I used 3 pumps of epoxy & hardener. Perfect amount for one rim
Paint the tape with epoxy. lay on the strips. paint the strips and soak.
When set, the piece will peel off the tape. It will be flexible
The new rough rim slides over the tub as high as it will go easily. Glass the outer sides of the tub to the rim. The sides of one took 6 pumps of epoxy perfect amount.
I laid the side pieces out on cling wrap and wet them out and then applied them to the tub
Don't fill up the underside of the rim. That is already the perfect shape. Don't ruin it. You will reinforce it from the top later.
Trim the old plastic tub rims off and glass the rim over the top into the tub a few inches. (I would not glass the full inside of the tub.)
Trim off excess glass rim and dry fit and then clean it up & paint however nicely you prefer. Maybe add outer bottom glass
Tub feels solid. Fits well. Doors close.
I know expoxy doesn't stick well to plastic but with four sides and bottom there is no way to let loose.
If the plastic ever lets loose or disintegrates the glass with still be the perfect shape.
Made new rims from glass cloth and epoxy. The idea is to match the shape . Use clear packing tape to cover the opening. (Epoxy doesn't stick to packing tape). Make sure there are no leaks.
We added strips of 1/4" plywood to make a gap for clearance of the tub. Tape goes over ply also. There must be NO bare plywood or gelcoat. COVER with tape.
For god's sake cover the batteries!
I used thin glass cloth that you find in autoparts store. Need two packs of 1 sq yd to do the complete job on two tubs from a 265 express. You don't need 1708 or glass mat. You want thin cloth that takes a shape and doesn't get strings everywhere. You are not going for strength you are trying to get a shape.
Precut your strips..maybe 2.5"-3" wide and lengths to overlap the corners. I used 3 pumps of epoxy & hardener. Perfect amount for one rim
Paint the tape with epoxy. lay on the strips. paint the strips and soak.
When set, the piece will peel off the tape. It will be flexible
The new rough rim slides over the tub as high as it will go easily. Glass the outer sides of the tub to the rim. The sides of one took 6 pumps of epoxy perfect amount.
I laid the side pieces out on cling wrap and wet them out and then applied them to the tub
Don't fill up the underside of the rim. That is already the perfect shape. Don't ruin it. You will reinforce it from the top later.
Trim the old plastic tub rims off and glass the rim over the top into the tub a few inches. (I would not glass the full inside of the tub.)
Trim off excess glass rim and dry fit and then clean it up & paint however nicely you prefer. Maybe add outer bottom glass
Tub feels solid. Fits well. Doors close.
I know expoxy doesn't stick well to plastic but with four sides and bottom there is no way to let loose.
If the plastic ever lets loose or disintegrates the glass with still be the perfect shape.
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