Date:         Sun, 7 Nov 2010 09:35:11 -0700
Reply-To:     "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
Subject:      Re: Hole in luggage rack/ best repair material?
In-Reply-To:  <669542.18091.qm@web54305.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

Mike, did you get an adequate reply? The luggage rack is fiberglass,
so any sort of fiberglass patch will repair it. You could do it in
place, or take the rack off. If you take the rack off you can do a
better repair, since you'll be able to get to the back of it.

Fiberglass repair is messy and unhealthy. You'll need at least a paper
mask when you start sanding.

With enough resin and sanding, you can make the hole disappear. Or you
might, as one poster suggested, leave the patch visible as a "badge of
courage."

If you take the rack off and do the patch cleanly, you can finish it
off by painting with gel coat from West Marine. More than one of the
Vanagon parts suppliers have new stickers.

Or, tape it up with duct tape, as David suggests, and motor on.

Mark
'82 Westy



On Nov 4, 2010, at 4:45 PM, Michael Hart wrote:

> A low hanging tree branch punched a 2 inch hole in the front of the
> luggage rack
> of my Westy.
> Recommendations on the best material to patch this? (white rack on
> white van)
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
> '87 Westy