Basic Hull Repair Techniques Course

This introductory course covers the basic repairs that any boat hull may need, across all the common hull materials. You will study the differences between maintenance, restoration, reinforcement, cosmetic repair and structural repair; the main hull types, from fiberglass and composites to wood, aluminum, steel, inflatables and RIBs; how to diagnose damage by visual inspection, tapping, moisture measurement and interior checks, and when to refer a job to a specialist; tools, materials, surface preparation and safe working conditions; basic fiberglass laminating and repairs, fillers, gelcoat and first-level osmosis treatment; and repairs on wooden, metal, aluminum and inflatable hulls, including the sealing of through-hulls and joints.

What sets this course apart: rather than specializing in one material or one defect, it gives you a broad, practical foundation for the repairs most often needed on leisure and working boats; it teaches clear criteria for deciding between a minor repair, a structural intervention or a specialist referral; it gives real weight to safety with resins, solvents, dust and power tools and to the environmental conditions that affect curing; it ends every repair with a watertightness check and a quality record; and it closes with a project in which you diagnose, plan and document the repair of a real case.