I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

[rookiex]

Well,My name is corey guys/gals.june 6th I bought a 1988 skeeter SD125 with and 1996 mercury 125 electric oil injection.I purchased the boat from a man who failed to tell me the boats trasom was ROTTED and nothing worked,And I not knowing anything about boats purchased it.
I did this for my father,he is ill with cancer of the liver and has always wanted a boat we could take out and spend some time together with.
I took the boat to a guy who rebuilt the transom and did some carpet to the boat,Then charged me a ASTRONOMICAL ammount of money.I took it to the water this weekend and noticed a qurter inch of water in the bilge and did not no if this was normal or not?.I pulled it out and went home to notice a crack in the right rear corner of the outter transom in the clear coat that was not there before and it looks like he tried to repair but did not work it is also fairly deep but Im not sure if its into the glass its hard to tell.
Mind you this guy had my boat for 2 and a half months,He had plenty of time to do it right.He tried to fill this 4 inch long crack with this red sticky type of substance maybe resin? and it didnt hold.I called him yesterday and he told me to bring it back to him on wensday (tomarrow).Im worried he does not know what he is doing now.And if he doesnt fix it right,I dont know what im going to do.I wanted to suprise my dad he is getting really bad guys.I dont know anything about body work or anything about paint but I am willing to learn.

I just dont know what to do. Ill get some pictures of this crack and post them tomarrow sometime before I take it to him.What would you do about this crack if it was you? Im afriad to do it myself I have no know how on body work but I cant afford to spend thousands of dollars all the time.

Is there a place a can go to get some type of education on fiberglassing gel coating and painting?

 

[78ImperialT]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

alright...first of all...a quarter inch of water isnt too big a deal as long as you know where it is coming from. a good bilge pump can be a life saver.

could you see the water seeping though the crack?

are you sure the water didnt just splash over board?

i know with my boat when i hit waves water sometimes gets into my boat. after a while i just hit the bigle switch and pump it out.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

I agree with imperial... a 1/4" isnt really that much at all through normal usage (ie water splashing in, dripping if you get in/out etc.)

But if the boat was bone dry and you didnt get any water splashed or dripped in at all and you're sure about that, then well there is most likely a leaking problem somewhere...

The red stuff sounds like it could be fairing compound (I thought it was more pinkish though). But for the time he had it it should have been done completely and correctly... I would be leary of taking it back to the guy unless he is going to fix it under some sort of garauntee...

As far as help, you have found no better place if you want to try and tackle the job yourself... I completely understand not wanting to put a ton of more money into it if you have already invested so much, but at this point, its either fix it or sell it and take the huge loss you would incur...

Just read through this forum, check out oops's rebuild thread (its huge), and also a number of the other smaller (2-4page) rebuild threads here, they are full of a wealth of information...

I had absolutely no body work or boat repair experience (out side of engine stuff), and I completely rebuilt mine... its not that hard, just time consuming, and a bit itchy/messy.

I am sure many of us here would be more than glad to help out any way we can...

Get those pics posted and we can point you in the right direction!

 

[jonesg]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

I wouldn't let the guy touch it again, the money is gone forgetaboutit.

Fix it yourself, very simple. Its a one day job.

Too bad you didn't find us before buying, same goes for most of us.

I got a boat under the same circumstances, buddy is going out with cancer so I got a boat as he's a fishing nut.

 

[allpoints360]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

Could you attach some photos? I'd like to see this repair.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

Without seeing pics we really can't say much about whether it's a good job or not.

That's not a lot of water in the bilge, whether it's important or not depends on how much was getting in before, whether it's a wavy or rainy day, and whether you know where it's coming from.

It sounds like you had a part of the repair not work out, which is unfortunate but can happy to anyone in the repair business... they rarely get to do things completely the "right" way but rather they do what the customer will pay for and hope things work out.

Erik

 

[rookiex]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

Well the water in the bilge I searched and searched for a leaking point when it was in the water and none to be found? no seeping its very little water.I almost wonder if its when I put in a small bit comes in as its a very steep ramp.Im not sure tho....

However I took it back and he confessed he did this when he was grinding?? and fixed it the wrong way the quick way.I told his this was no acceptable at all and I wanted it fixed right or else .

What type of tools should I invest in.. to do this myself.Im going to learn one way or another.....

Like id like to learn how to extend my front deck where you fish off (you know) bring it back so you have more walking room.Id love to learn how to do that and fix this crack where the last owner bumped the anchor in the storage place a lil hard its small but id love to know how to fiber glass it back with the black sparkley paint and all.

 

[jonesg]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

How to Repair Fiberglass videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsoKAHU5xUw

How To Fiberglass - Two Part Mold Construction - #1 Flanging

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzng9HeGNPE

How To Fiberglass - Mold Layup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsvgaWHPMF4&feature=related

#1 making a fibreglass mould using optimold tooling resin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVgF9QePV5I

# 2 making a fibreglass mould using optimold tooling resin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gzq...5443C829B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

#3 making a fibreglass mould using optimold tooling resin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mvl...D678B06E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=24

lining a baptism pool with fibreglass part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx9aT9xeYBg&feature=channel

Lining a baptism pool with fibreglass part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyDlbRjl8fk&feature=channel

HOW TO FIBERGLASS * The Original * The Series * Part 1 * Cowl Induction Scoop * Go Fast Fiberglass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXkR94AQjFM

Howto: Building a Transom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh6RkYNxiHw

Stinger Repair Assessment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH4Qhr2mEIw

Fiberglass Repair How to Part I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N7YMr6E564

Fiberglass Repair Howto Part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrxhGYXEjkA

McClarin Plastics - How to Repair Fiberglass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBxnaY0mFMk

 

[rookiex]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

oh wow...niceeeeee

 

[Schmoe]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

Quarter inch of water in an inboard is almost normal, but with an outboard, I'd be concerned.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

i dont think 1/4" is anything to really be concerned about, in the sense that its not going to sink the boat. my MFG had a crack in the keel just below the bow. after a 6-7 hour outing i would drain about a gallon of water from the boat. yes i knew the crack had to be addressed, but i also knew that an extra 7 pounds wasnt going to sink the boat.

 

[drewpster]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

jonesg is my new hero.

 

[freelancer]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

I did this for my father,he is ill with cancer of the liver and has always wanted a boat we could take out and spend some time together with.

Rookiex, I can't help with the repair thing because I'd probably be paying some guy to do it for me too, just was never good at that kind of stuff.

But if you and your old man are any where near the Philadelphia harbor area I'd be more than happy to take you guys out on the Delaware River for a day of fishing or cruising or whatever so that you and him can spend some time together. I got plenty of room for a couple of new friends.

 

[rookiex]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

well thank you lads.


I thanks very kind of you man.


Ive been reading allot it doesnt really seem too hard.Whats the worst you can do if you try to learn to do it yourself...sink it? lol i wouldnt take it out to a place you could sink it till i got to know it....its a river about 35 ft wide with any place to beach the boat if you must....

its the oklawaha river in central florida.


where is the metal flake added into the mix?

and what is the coat on top that makes it look all glossy isnt that the clear coat......is that where you mix the metal flake...

im going to attemp to fix this lil whole as a test and paint it lol if i can lol.

 

[rookiex]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

Well the saga continues.....The guy told me he had everything done,So I stopped by to check it out....GUESS WHAT! NOTHING DONE....So i took my boat he said ''you warentee is void''....... whatever then...Ill just learn how to do it myself...


GUYS I HAVE A FEELIING IM GOING TO NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET



Im always afriad to try things like this,Im afriad im going to break something BAD....Im not good with tools but im a good learner....And ive been reading allot like you all told me.I read to page 60 of OOPS artical.Altho I learned allot i have NO expirance at this at all.I have no feeling of how it is done.So im going to start off by pictures on a new thread and let you guys take a look at somethings.And maybe you can give me some ideas and point me in the right direction.Ive got to make this thing float ive got to do it for my pops ya know...

 

[jonesg]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

It might help if you posted where you live.

Roll your sleeves up and get stuck in.

 

[rookiex]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

i live a long way from boston I live in ocala Florida.

 

[jonesg]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

Lots of iBoat members live in Fl, if you can ask for someone to stop by and take a look and give you some direction, its a lot easier in person.

Who lives in Ocala guys?

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

Wow..what a good thing your trying to do...

Near Ocala...Well TriumphRick is an hour south I think..
We have a few guys out near Lake Harris...
I am 220 sumthin miles south...
If I could get up there I would but my schedule blows for the next week or so

 

[oops!]

Re: I have a story to tell...And need guidance.

welcome....and when the boat gets done, you and your dad will have a super time...its not that hard....just messy and all you need are basic tools and a little patience.

i have a ton of questions if you dont mind.....

what are we talking about here, a transom repair or replacement.....and what exactally is a astronmical amounts to money?........that will tell me as to what he might of done .....the time line is out the window. as its tough to do a big job like that in the middle of busy season.

it is easy to grind thru a transom during a repair process.....i did it with a chain saw the other week........but once the transom was out.....the repairs are allways easy because you can get at it from both sides.

if he charged you a ton of cash and only repaired the transom.....well...uh....thats not good
a standard transom job on a little 15 footer out board will be around 800 to 1500.......other boats can go as high as 3500 for a replacement.

ok.....so what we need to see is the area......what you want to fix?

a little water in the bilge wont kill you.....but lets see some shots and hear your plans....and we can guide you......if you have the time to spend on the boat....you can be on the water in a very short while...

cheers
oops