Crashed boat Resto

[Nandy]

Im in search of a replacement hull or a replacement boat for my cobia. I will probably wait until Fall when is cheaper to buy a boat. In the mean time I want to be able to use this boat. I thought about sanding the affected areas and using fiberglass cloth form wallly world and just cover then darn thing. After all, im not keeping this hull. I really dont want to spend much money as I am getting rid of the hull. I just want to keep the water out, keep the loose fiberglass off my guest and for the repair not to look too "redneck". Here are some shots, if you guys need I can take more pictures from whatever angle needed for advise.

Thanks!

 

[woosterken]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

DUCK TAPE!! and then throw some gray paint on the rest nobody will notice

woosterken

 

[sschefer]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Whooo boy, so what's the other guy look like.... I can see the need for a good indepth inspection for hidden structural damage. If it looks and feels sound in all respects than a good glass man should be able to put a respectable patch on it to get you through.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Looking at that damage, it doesn't look as hard to repair as I first thought in your original post. I think if the rub rail is removed, you will be able to get the fiberglass back in alignment and then see how much effort it would be to grind and glass the torn sections back together.

I think once the pieces line back up, you will realize that the repairs are do-able.

Do not trash the rub rail. Its expensive stuff, and would be worth the trouble of paying a body shop to work the kinks out and re-install. Even if you cut it clean off with a hacksaw about 4 feet back from the tip of the bow, it wouldn't look bad being pieced back together. But my preference would be to remove the black vinyl strip, remove all the screws and remove the rub rail as one piece. It appears that the cap is attached to the hull with screws. Should not be hard to undo a few dozen screws, lift the cap 6 or 8 inches at the bow, and make the repairs to the cap and hull, then drop back together and reattach.

I bet two weekends could have that patched up, a little white paint and most people would not even notice.

I might be a little optimistic, but I would take on that repair in a heartbeat. Do it all in poly and CSM and some heavy 10oz or better cloth. Just like what you see showing.

Alternatively, remove the rubrail, lift the cap as much as possible, put some 2x4's across the bow to hold it open, then take it to a body shop and ask how much to repair the damage. Could save you hundreds.

The fiberglass WANTS to go back into shape. Something is holding it as is. Once the stress is relieved, you may have to pry a bit, and a big hammer and some 2x4 will let you get it back to un-stressed shape. The sooner, the better.

I really don't think your boat is a write-off.

 

[blktout67]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

NANDY is this the boat that the guy hit coming out of a no wake zone ? and if it is what became of it all if you dont mind me asking .you should be able to loosen the cap and get it close to be able to patch it back together with cloth
and some fiber glass filer tell you can get another boat to replace it

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Mark42 said it all.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Whooo boy, so what's the other guy look like....

The other guy Chris Craft barely got a scratch. All he needs is waxing.

NANDY is this the boat that the guy hit coming out of a no wake zone ? and if it is what became of it all if you dont mind me asking .

Yes, it is. Not saying much yet. This is a 2 part saga. Lets just say first part is done and I did great, second part dont look much better for him either. Once it is all over I will let you all know as much as my lawyer allows me.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Mark, thanks for the advise. What is csm? So you think I should use polyester instead of resin? I think I have resin available already. I will check tomorrow. I dont know much of the difference that it will make but it will be only for a season at most. Not second guessing your advise, I just wonder if what I have now will work. I will check what I have tomorrow and start in the rub rail and maybe I get enough time to get the glass where it belongs. Will be taking pictures. Any other practical advise will be welcome. I also posted a request in craigslist. I definitely don't want to pay a pro to put a patch but there a chance I could find someone just needing a bit of money and that way I can keep the fiberglass off my skin!!!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

CSM = Chopped Strand Mat AKA mat.

Polyester and Epoxy are both resin, I would use polyester resin because its cheaper, its what the boat is made from, you can gel coat it, and its much easier to sand, there are more fairing and finish options available than epoxy and it is not as toxic on your skin as epoxy. (uncured epoxy WILL give you nasty ichy rash that will not go away for days and needs quartizone cream treatment - polyester will not).

Yes, please do post some pics after taking off the rail. Its easier to get the vinyl strip out when warm. Either let it sit in the sun, or use a hair dryer to warm it up. Start at the end and it should pull out. I think you can still get that vinyl in 25 or 40 foot rolls rather cheap.

Hey, whats a little itch for the satisfaction of doing it yourself?

 

[seven up]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

The starboard side is tucked under and pushing the port side up and out. Once the stress is relieved by popping the starboard side back out, then everything will start looking more original and give you a perspective on the repair. Best of luck.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Hey, whats a little itch for the satisfaction of doing it yourself?

Well, I hate to say this, I really like that hull, but once I get the other boat this hull is in its way to the dupster.... Or the free section of craigslist... I really like it. The only thing I did not liked was the fact that is not a bowrider.... Lets see what I find in my future. I already eyed one boat, but it seems a bit over my budget. Hulls, good ones for that matter, are hard to find...

Thanks!!!

 

[scipper77]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

If you know that you stringers and transom are good you should repair that hull. You never know what you are going to get in a used older boat without having it surveyed by a professional.

I was once involved in a legal case where the lawyer told me not to discuss the case until it was over. It was over 6 years later.

 

[YN2(SS)]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

As for fiberglass in your skin,
1) wear long sleeves and brown cotton jersey gloves
2) when done, take a roll of duct tape and extend a piece on the roll and roll it backwards so the sticky side is out. Then roll the roll up and down your skin and the duct tape will pull the fiberglass fibers out of your skin. Works great. Takes 5 minutes!

 

[Nandy]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

These are some pictures after I took the rubrail out. It was a b#$@# to get out.

These are after I started to separate the hull and the upper deck half. You can see the damage in more detail. I think it will be easier to fix than what I thought.

continue..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

That doesn't look nearly as bad.

When/If you do junk this thing, make sure you hang on to the primo windshield.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Obviously, this section was the one that took the most of the hit.

What is the easiest way to take that silicone sealant at the bottom of the rubrail? is coming in little pieces if it comes at all.

The top shelf might be the easiest to fix. Should I sand/grind the outside following the fiberglass crack deep enough to get rid of the gelcoat, then go in the inside of the deck and grind it to the point that it goes trhu then fiberglass it from the inside? Or should I just cut about a 1/4 inch wide gap following the fiberglass crack, bevel it in the insed and fix it then? This are ideas in the fly, y'all fiberglass guys can tell me better.

The bottom part looks more challenging. Should I follow a similar process as for the top part?

As far as gelcoat, can I buy it in small quantities? I dont think I will need much to cover the repairs if it is done like I think I need to. Any tips on gelcoat and how to use it are welcome. That other boat in my avatar needs some patches, I wonder is I can color that gelcoat to match that other one and kill 2 birds in one shot so to speak..

Im trying to get to the lake this weekend so I might use a piece of wood to hold the big broken part and some ducktape to keep it dry. I know it will look redneck but is all i could do to get to the water this weekend.

I found the mat and the cloth I bought years ago when I fixed my first boat. It does not have the weight in it so I dont know what is it. The resin don't say either if it is epoxy or polyester. I got it either at home depot or wally's so im sure it is the most common epoxy. Unless I decide not to go to the lake I will take care of this next week.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Yea in my opinion you need to keep it split til you get it fixed and all lined up(lower part), glass repairs done and gelcoat if you are going that route. Then get to work on the top part and fix that. After you got those all 100% then re-assemble. I thought when i first looked at the pics that it was toast and would not be worth it. Now it looks like a weekend type of a job. Good luck though!

 

[Nandy]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

The tip of the bow seems to be all smashed. I can push it from the back and it kinda goes back to the original form. Will it be better to just cut that part and try to make it or just fiberglass on top of it from the front?

Thanks for y'alls help!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Get some assorted pieces wood and some screws, now push and prod everything back to it's original shape, or at least as close as possible. Use the wood and screws to brace it and force areas back into place. Don't worry about fuzzy edges or missing chunks, just get the larger pieces in place.

Now grind the areas you can get too, you don't need to remove much glass right now, you just need to make sure the new layup will stick.

Use one or two layers of mat and bridge across the gaps, tape on the back side will help if the gap is too wide for the mat to span it. wait for that to harden and see if there's enough strength to hold it in place when you remove the screws and wood, you may need another layer of glass in few places so it won't move.

With the wood removed start getting a little more serious with the grinder and sand out as much of the fractured glass as possible, you don't need to get every bit of it, but get what you can. Don't worry about what the first mat looks like yet, do this grinding work from the opposite side.

Since most of the damaged area can be accessed from the back side, this is where most of the glass should be applied, the outside will have mostly a cosmetic repair.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Crashed boat Resto

Get some assorted pieces wood and some screws, now push and prod everything back to it's original shape, or at least as close as possible. Use the wood and screws to brace it and force areas back into place.

Ok, is this supposed to be in the inside or the outside?

Now grind the areas you can get too, you don't need to remove much glass right now, you just need to make sure the new layup will stick.

Use one or two layers of mat and bridge across the gaps, tape on the back side will help if the gap is too wide for the mat to span it. wait for that to harden and see if there's enough strength to hold it in place when you remove the screws and wood, you may need another layer of glass in few places so it won't move.

I assume this is done in the gelcoat side (outside) after grinding it? When you say tape you mean masking tape or something different

With the wood removed start getting a little more serious with the grinder and sand out as much of the fractured glass as possible, you don't need to get every bit of it, but get what you can. Don't worry about what the first mat looks like yet, do this grinding work from the opposite side.

Since most of the damaged area can be accessed from the back side, this is where most of the glass should be applied, the outside will have mostly a cosmetic repair.

I assume this part is done in the inside part....

Sorry for the questions, but I want to make sure I got it right. My common sense is not always right..

Thanks!