Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

About Fishing Products including Make Your Own => Boats, Outboard Motors, Prop & Trailer Talk => Topic started by: Mike S. on June 20, 2010, 10:47:06 AM

Title: Cracked live well...any ideas on a good fix?
Post by: Mike S. on June 20, 2010, 10:47:06 AM
It's no surprise that the livewell is cracked across the bottom in the boat I just bought from my buddy.  I've known about it for years.  It appears to have cracked from he divider slamming up and down while in place.  Does anybody have a good idea to seal this up?  I have thought about plastic welding, since I have an uncle who does it on rv holding tanks, but I am not sure what type of plastic it would be made of.  Maybe a multi layered patch of epoxy?  I can post pics later if that would help.  Any ideas?  I really don't want to fill the whole boat with water if I use the livewell.
Title: Re: Cracked live well...any ideas on a good fix?
Post by: Bobber on June 20, 2010, 01:36:37 PM
Fiberglass Resin and cloth. Its easy and the strongest thing i can think of.
Title: Re: Cracked live well...any ideas on a good fix?
Post by: thedude on June 20, 2010, 11:29:26 PM
i'd say the same - only try 3oz fiberglass cloth and epoxy.
Title: Re: Cracked live well...any ideas on a good fix?
Post by: Waterfoul on June 27, 2010, 11:42:45 PM
Make sure you rough up the area you plan on putting the fiberglass... give it a rough surface to adhere to.
Title: Re: Cracked live well...any ideas on a good fix?
Post by: Mike S. on June 28, 2010, 08:51:34 PM
I've never done any fiberglass work.  It will bond to plastic?  I went and bought a 1 inch plug, so at least now the live well doesn't fill with water.
Title: Re: Cracked live well...any ideas on a good fix?
Post by: Waterfoul on June 29, 2010, 11:24:06 PM
Quote from: mikeszr800 on June 28, 2010, 08:51:34 PM
I've never done any fiberglass work.  It will bond to plastic?  I went and bought a 1 inch plug, so at least now the live well doesn't fill with water.

It will IF you rough it up real good... I'm talking a very course sand paper.  I suggest West Systems resin... best around and you can get it from the West Marine store near you on James Street, just west of US 31.  This is Epoxy resin and will stick to the plastic much better than the cheaper polyester resin ever will.  Talk to Ross or Joel.
Title: Re: Cracked live well...any ideas on a good fix?
Post by: Mike S. on July 01, 2010, 08:32:49 PM
Thanks.  I will have to run in there, and check that out.  I put 3 1 inch plugs in it, and that keeps all the water out, but haven't yet fixed the crack.  As of now, the live well is just empty space, and useless.