Customer Reviews

The Fiberglass Boat Repair Manual

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of the many boatbuilding and repair manuals I have seen, I would consider this to be the best reference for fiberglass boat repair. The pictures on the dust-jacket alone indicate that a serious treatise is contained within. It would appear that no matter how bad it looks, there is no problem beyond the scope of the competent fiberglass repairman. (Caution - some of the color photos of repairs-in-progress between pages 118 and 119 are not for the faint-hearted!)

Mr. Vaitses has been at this for a long time and with experience in the world of wooden boats (all boats have wood in them somewhere) as well as having been a player in the fiberglass revolution, is able to offer a well-rounded perspective. His honest, no-nonsense approach to problem-solving is refreshing.

Besides the obvious background info and how-to descriptions, this book can be an invaluable asset when examining a used boat. Mr. Vaitses is currently working as a marine surveyor (a person who inspects and evaluates the condition of boats for prospective buyers). All used boats need some kind of work and the challenge then becomes evaluating the nature and scope of needed repairs, e.g. distinguishing structural and safety issues from cosmetics and determining whether one can affect the repairs oneself vs. how much it will cost to have someone else do it.

Studying this book allows one to communicate more effectively with the surveyor and to describe problems more accurately to repair facilities in order to estimate projected costs. We recently completed the evaluation and purchase of a 1974 36-foot fiberglass cruiser. I can honestly say that the knowledge and confidence I gained from this book made the entire process a good bit less nerve-racking than it might have been!

For those looking at an older boat, this book offers great insight to how the older boat may have been constructed. That insight is just nowhere else to be found. I have read my copy from cover to cover. I go back and FREQUENTLY reread sections to better understand how to work on my boat. That's what makes this book a BIBLE of fiberglass boat knowledge.

With rampant cost escalation for fuel, dock space, upkeep, and every single other aspect of boating, it is SERIOUSLY worth looking at a 1960's, '70s, or '80's boat instead of a new one.

I am working on restoring an older boat - '80s Hunter. It would not be possible without this book. This book, along with those by Casey, Calder, Payne, Vigor, Wittman, and others are the core of my repair resource.

As has been pointed out, there is not a host of material about Carbon Fiber or more advanced composites/epoxies. For that you could go to West System's books and pamphlets.

For working on my collection of "good old boats".. I would NOT be without this book. I absolutely recommend it.

This book is a very good guide for the novice in looking into doing some fiberglass repair . I think it covers alot of the fundamentals which is necessary, however it did not fully address the area that I was most interested in such as the stringer repair and replacement in my boat. As I said I think it is well worth the addition to my library and would recomend it to anyone who is anticipating any fiberglass repair.

I am a first time fiberglass boat restorer, and this book just doesn't do it for me. The pictures are poor quality and mostly B&W, and the text is hard to follow. For someone who has basic knowledge of working with fiberglass, and learns well with text only, this may be a good reference, but I would not recommend it for beginners. Roger Marshall's "Fiberglass Boat Repairs Illustrated" is by far superior for what I needed.

The how to get through the process of repairing a fiberglass boat is normally to find someone else who has done it that will take the time to tell you what to do. The hope is that you find someone willing to listen to what you have going on with your situation and knows how to explain each step. Unless you know what you should do next there are so many chances you will get stuck. This book proves absolutely thorough on the subject. You can go into a group discussion on the topic after reading this book feeling confident that you know what's what about the use of these composite materials as applied to marine small craft.

If you have either a new boat or a classic one -- odds are you'll drop a tool and damage the gelcoat or something worse.

This book will take the panic out of the event, as the author gives an explanation you'd expect to get from your uncle.. You get matter-of-fact instruction about repairs ranging from simple damage to profound problems such as core rot.

I very recommend this book.

If you use firerglass materials this is information worth having.
The only negative comment I can make is that the publication needs to be brought up to date.
There are newer materials on the market, and techniques to apply them, that this publication doesn't cover.
That being said it is still worth owning.

Good book. Tells about all the various gel coats and fiberglass meshes, some of which i don't need to know but. Gives ample instruction on what to use and touches on how to use fiberglass. This is a technical book on the materials needed,not the greatest in how to use. It was a good buy although. I give it 3 1/2 stars in the information catalog.

This is a good book. It is complete, to be sure. For the expert fiberglass repair person, I cannot speak, but it is certainly difficult to read for an amateur. Generally, a bit much to swallow. I think that other books have similar information more elegantly stated. The fault is not with the content, but the presentation.

This is a very old book as far as fiberglass boats go.Must later prcedures,and products not included. There is some usefull info in the book