Fixing a broke chine.

[f_inscreenname]

It?s to hard to explain with just words. So I made a video. Watch this and tell me what you think I should do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KmemM_uk0M

 

[rndn]

Re: Fixing a broke chine.

If you can get to the inside you can fill it in with epoxy or foam. The real fix is not to hit your boat on things that can cause a crack.

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: Fixing a broke chine.

Just wanted to add, that if you end up filling that side with epoxy, you should do the other side too. I'm not really sure how much weight you will add to the hull by filling it, but I would try and keep it balanced. I just got done fixing a small spot in a string with epoxy, worked like a charm.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Fixing a broke chine.

Ayuh,......

Interesting Problem........

Are you looking to Fill the chine Totally from fore to aft,..??

I'd be tempted to drill holes into it from inside the hull,+ fill it with a Slightly thickened Epoxy.....
But,...
The draw-backs I see are,.. 1,.. The Cost,+ 2,.. the Weight Added.....

Another Idea,.....
Cut only the Bottom out of it, as far as you want to go,....
Sculpture a foam block to fit, slightly above the Cut-line,...(that sounds Odd, but it's Upside-down)
Then cap it with Epoxy,+ fabric......

 

[45Auto]

Re: Fixing a broke chine.

Cut a small hole towards the front, tilt the boat up, and pour in some expanable foam, like this stuff:

http://www.uscomposites.com/foam.html

Once the foam has cured, trim off what has extruded through the hole and glass over the hole. Then re-glass the cracked area on your video.

 

[erie_guy]

Re: Fixing a broke chine.

f_inscreenname,
The chine appears to be a very weak fiberglas attachment to the hull. I personally would fill it with the UScomposite product suggested by 45auto. I have used a two-part urethane foams with success in several industrial applications and it works well providing strength to structures. I would use the highest density foam (16 lb/ft3). Measure the volume of the cavities you need to fill and you can determine the weight you will add to your hull. These urethanes are not cheap so a less dense foam will cost less and add less weight to your boat. Lighter is better, but there are tradeoffs as you have already seen. I would also add three or four layers of glass cloth over the entire bottom of the chine to give it more impact resistance.

erie_guy
Port Clinton, OH

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Fixing a broke chine.

?The real fix is not to hit your boat on things that can cause a crack.?
I wish it was that easy. The bay is full of crap and some are boat killers. I hit something in my last boat in 35? of water so hard it?s the reason I have this boat now. Not saying it happens everyday but I have had to avoid, at much higher speeds things that would send you to the bottom. Logs, parts of piers, 50gal drums you name it. One of the draw backs of being along the water way to a big city.
I like this foam idea. Is there a way to ?inject it?? Like if I drilled holes in the side of the chine. You know like they do when they fill a house wall cavity with that ?great foam? stuff.

 

[erie_guy]

Re: Fixing a broke chine.

Yes, it can be injected through a series of holes after mixing the two parts. You can probably find empty caulking cartridges for this task. I believe I purchased these from West Marine a couple of years ago for epoxy work. The higher density urethanes do not expand as much as the Home Depot insulating/caulking materials from a spray can.

You also have a limited time from mixing to injection - so be quick with the injection (installation) or you will be wasting $$. I would suggest doing it with a hole every couple of feet and injecting thru a high hole and seeing how much it fills (expands) - then mixing up another batch and repeating the injection proceedure increamentally in steps until the chine is filled.

erie_guy
Port Clinton, OH

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Fixing a broke chine.

I didn't know you could buy empty caulk tubes. That idea is perfect!