hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

[floflodr]

hi guys, im currently restoring this 17footer center console

after taking off the anti fouling paint, the bottom is looking quiet nasty with several soft spots and cracks, which i have sealed with filler and i now plan to put a complete layer of fiberglass over the whole bottom, just as shown on the picture.

friends have told me that this may not be the best idea, as they say it will add too much weight + change the boats hull.
Im not so sure what to think and do, as i believe it will make the bottom stronger and create a new layer on the bottom, covering all cracks etc. and as i have a 90HP engine i can live with an additional 20 lbs.

thanks in advance for any help

 

[Bondo]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

Ayuh,.....

I think your Friends are Right.......

That hull has some Very Serious Structural Problems.......

If it's salvagable at All,.... The repairs should be done on the Inside of the hull,.....
Not just slapping a layer of glass on the outside........

 

[ondarvr]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

It can be done on the outside, but it's a lot of work and you most likely need to do a bunch of work on the inside also, so it may be easier to just do it all from the inside.

Is the black bottom paint or gel coat? if it's bottom paint, it all needs to come off before anything is done on the outside.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

Bond-o

We were typing at the same time.

 

[Bondo]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

Ayuh,..... I figured that Jody,...

Btw,......
That "Cookbook" has given me oddles of reading,......
Much of it over my head,+ out of my realm of work,... But Great reading none the less.....
Thanks again for it......

 

[floflodr]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

i dont really want to do the repair from the inside because that would mean i have to take the whole boat apart.

im not sure what the black paint may be, i had the impression its the lead from the antifouling paint, im very thankful for any additional help you guys can give me.

 

[Bondo]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

i dont really want to do the repair from the inside because that would mean i have to take the whole boat apart.

Ayuh,......

Without doing it Right,..... You're setting up a Very Unsafe situation....

As I said before,.... That hull has some Very Serious Issues......

Either tear it apart,+ Fix it Right,......
Or,....
Toss a Match into it,+ walk away......
Otherwise,..... Yourself,+/or Others will probably be Swimming when you least expect it.........

 

[floflodr]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

please see this pic attached, the only real soft spot is the spot marked in red, the crack inside the other circle was not as deep as number 1.

wouldn't reinforcing it with a thick layer of fiberglass be enough ?

c`mon guys, give me some tips so i don't have to get to the inside of this boat, its gonna be a nightmare of a work.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

That transverse crack looks concerning. What's on the inside of the vessel at that point?

 

[Lou C]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

Usually when you get a soft spot, it's a sign of the structure under the glass,rotting or giving way and it is no longer able to stiffen the outside glass against the force of the water against the hull. Just putting glass on the outside, is not likely to be adequate, or else boat manufactures would not have to provide all the inside structural reinforcement that they do. 'Course, opening it up, never know what you're gonna find...in my case I had a stringer that was nearly rotted in two, the part that was from the bow back to the gas tank bulkhead was rotted from the floor up, and nearly disconnected from the rear portion of the same stringer. So I bit the bullet, had it done the right way, I did the tear out, had the glass shop do the stringers right, then I replaced the floor myself. Yeah it's an old boat, and even worse, it has a (reliable!) OMC Cobra, but most importantly, it's now a SAFE boat.

 

[oops!]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

floflodr.....

i must agree with my friends here.....

read what ondarvr and bond-o said....twice.

in order to save you a ton of work here. look at the inside...and the strimgers mush?...if so you gotta dig them out any how.

so inside might be far better......

my concern would be getting a good bond to the old hull if done on the outside......then a TON of sanding.

you might want to buy a book called the fiberglass repair manual by alan h vertasis....????? last name is spelled wrong...it is avalible here ay i boats.

but what i think must be changed most of all.......is the thought that you can get a quick fix on it........(please understand...i mean no disrespect here at all).......

that job is bigger than just glassing over the hull and painting.

let us know what your going to do
cheers
oops

 

[oops!]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

and "cookbook".......

can ya pm me the name and author?

im in to learning.

cheers

 

[ondarvr]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

oops!

If ya want a copy, either send me your email address and I'll email it to you, or I might be in Kelowna Next week and can give you one then.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

From what I can see from the outside, there appears to be serious issues on the inside. It is possible to build it up enough on the outside for the hull to hold up, but that involves much more glass (glass + resin =$$ and weight) than it would from doing it from the inside. The support system under the deck may be (most likely is) failing and you will still need to fix it before the boat is really usable.

 

[Robj]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

The stringers, transom and floor also need to be looked at. My guess is that there is considerable rott there, based on the condition of the hull. In which case, it would be easier to do the work from the inside.

These guys know what they are talking about!!

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Bondo]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

If ya want a copy, either send me your email address and I'll email it to you, or I might be in Kelowna Next week and can give you one then.

Ayuh,...... I sent him a copy of the copy you sent Me,......

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

The gel coat on my boat was cracked everywhere and after replacing everything structural (since it was mush) I coated the bottom with Gluvit by Marine Tex. It's not as smooth as gel coat but maybe that's because I didn't sand it. If I remember it gums up sandpaper in about 5 seconds. It has been used for two seasons sitting in the water all season and the bottom has held up fine. I agree, without knowing the condition under the floor you may just pouring money into the lake.
If you open the floor at those soft areas you may be able to repair them and carry on to seal the bottom. Worse case scenario, you find the stringers are rotten and you need to reassess your project. Better to do a floor patch and know what you have instead of hoping, especially when out on the water.

 

[floflodr]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

i didn't want to but today i decided to play it safe and do what you guys have suggested.

the hull is actually quiet well intact and does not show any cracks from the inside, the only reason why im happy that i actually did this is because the transom is totally gone, and the engine would have fallen off any second while running.

by the way, could anyone tell me what make my boat is ?
plz see the picture as i bought it, one thing i know for sure, its not worth all the work ;0

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

Well, I didn't expect you would get into it that far but why stop now. Why don't you scrape out the transom wood and use Sea Cast or something to replace it. The lettering has to go too.

 

[floflodr]

Re: hull cracks + fiberglass cover plz see pics

well thats just how i roll

i thought if im gonna do this ill do it right, when i finish i will have a boat for the next 5-7 years without problems, and i will loose some weight on the way, that goes for the boat and myself probably.

checkout the pic of the transom, i cant believe it was holding a 1990 90HP engine without just falling off.

im trying to figure out now if i should replace the transom with two plywoods as it used to be or if i should get one single piece of wood.
im in the dominican rep and have very limited access to quality materials, so im trying to keep it basic.