Structural Fiberglass Boat Repair
Call (239) 288-6185 or request an estimate to have the structure inspected.
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Repair & Refinishing
Structural fiberglass boat repair goes beyond making a damaged area look good. The goal is to restore strength, stiffness, load transfer and integrity to the boat, so it handles the loads it was built for. At Hands On Deck, we repair structural damage on boats from our Fort Myers shop, then restore the cosmetic surface once the structure underneath is right.
What Structural Boat Repair Covers
- Stringers and bulkheads, the internal framework that stiffens the hull
- Transoms, which carry the load of outboards and drives
- Decks and coring, including soft spots from wet or failed core
- Tabbing and laminates that have separated or cracked
- Delamination and stress cracking
- Collision damage
- Areas affected by water intrusion or failed bonding
Signs It May Be Structural
- A deck or sole that feels soft or flexes underfoot
- Cracks that radiate from stringers, hardware or the transom
- A transom that moves when the motor is trimmed or under load
- Water weeping from fastener holes long after the boat is out of the water
- Spider cracking that comes back after cosmetic repairs
None of these prove a structural problem on their own, but they’re worth having looked at before the next season.
How We Repair Structure
01
Open it up.
We open the damaged area far enough to see the true extent of the problem.
02
Remove what’s compromised.
Damaged laminate, wet or deteriorated core, and failed bonding material come out.
03
Rebuild.
The structure is rebuilt with the appropriate fiberglass reinforcements, resins, core materials, fairing compounds and bonding methods.
04
Restore the surface.
Once the structure is sound, we finish the area to blend with the boat, the same way we approach cosmetic fiberglass and gelcoat repair.
Illustration
Why the Scope Can Change
Structural damage often extends beyond what’s visible from the outside. Wet core can travel well past the crack that first showed up. That’s why final scope is set by what we find once the area is properly exposed, and we’ll walk you through it before adding work. You’ll see what we see.
FAQ
Structural Repair FAQs
Don’t see yours? Call the shop and talk to the team directly.
Can fiberglass boats be repaired structurally?
Yes. Fiberglass is very repairable when the damaged material is removed and the structure is rebuilt properly. The key is removing everything that’s compromised, not just covering it.
Do you use polyester or epoxy resin?
It depends on the repair, the existing materials and the bond we need. We choose the resin and reinforcement system for each job rather than using one product for everything.
How much does structural repair cost?
It depends on the area involved, how far moisture or delamination has spread, and the finish work afterward. We’ll give you an estimate after inspection and update it with you if opening the area reveals more.
Repair & Refinishing
Related Services
Fiberglass & Gelcoat Repair →Chips, gouges, cracks and impact damage, finished with color-matched gelcoat or marine paint.
Boat Painting & Refinishing →Spot repairs to full hull and topside color changes, plus gelcoat respray.
Bottom Paint →Surface prep, primer and antifouling, with Hempel as our preferred system.
Next step
Request an Estimate
Request an estimate or call (239) 288-6185, and we’ll start with a proper look at the structure.