Fiberglass repair around deck cleat

[mreeder]

I am looking for some advice on repairing some cracked fiberglass around the deck cleat on my boat. This will be my first fiberglass repair.

I believe I tied my boat up to the dock with too short of a line and the tension ended up cracking the fiberglass around the deck cleat (other theories are welcome). I've posted pictures of the crack on the website below. There is also a picture of what I believe are the bolts securing the deck cleat, accessible from the quarter-birth below. I am not certain that these are the correct bolts because there are no cracks around the bolts. But if that is indeed the bolts, there was obviously no back-plate to secure the deck cleat.

https://picasaweb.google.com/113842586128373037250/CrackedFiberglassAroundCleat?authuser=0&feat=direc tlink

As you can see in the pictures, the deck cleat itself did not come loose from the fiberglass—instead all the fiberglass around the cleat cracked. The cleat itself seems to be sealed to the fiberglass.

Please let me know if you think this is a repair I can do myself. I have read quite a few posts on this site and have grabbed a repair manual. I am concerned that the crack is too close to the edge of the deck, and I wont be able to bevil the fiberglass far enough out from the crack. Any advice or specific resources would be greatly appreciated.

[Pete7]

Welcome to CF

Is photo 2 the port side, because the cleat looks like the starboard side?

Pete

[S/V Illusion]

This will require access below deck but this is more a glass repair than a cleat issue. If you have no prior experience with laying new glass, given the location, you might be better served to have an experienced person do it for you. While you/they are at it, verify the thickness of the FRP in that area as the opposite side is likely constructed similarly and may require the same repair.

[Pete7]

Agreed and it looks like the hull has an inner moulding under the cleat which begs the question what is in between that and the deck moulding.

The good news is it's all fixable and a professional repair won't show if you chose to go that way. However, it will need substantial reinforcing to stop it happening again.

Pete

[Cheechako]

Yes, it appears to have a hull liner... strange that the liner doesnt look buckled though... going to be a tough little repair. Have you considered an insurance claim? (if you have coverage)

[DeepFrz]

The West Marine web site has a good article on repairing fiberglass. But the area really looks like it will require more than just a fix of the broken area. I would look carefully at where the chainplate comes through the deck as well.

[mreeder]

Thanks for the advice. I did not consider that there was an inner moulding under the cleat.

I bought the boat with expectations of doing my own work, but I didn't expect to start with such a difficult issue. Ha.

I'll get a quote on the work and see if it's worth an insurance claim.

Cheers.

(And Pete7, I did have that picture captioned incorrectly--the birth and cleat are on the starboard side)