1964 Aerocraft restoration project

[nytony11]

The PROBLEM is the the hull is paper thin! I wont be able to even be inside without it cracking or my foot falling thru. I grinded a small spot to see how far the glass was and figured out the entire bottom of hull is literally paper thin. I grinded thru the hull in about 2 seconds. I can grind the rest down without being in the boat since its small but want to know if this is even salvageable? I plan on sanding clean and laying glass on the entire hull. Let me know what anyone thinks or advice on how to reinforce safely.

The pic does not give justice on how thin this hull is.

 

[Woodonglass]

Since you have a balsa cored hull, I'd HIGHLY recommend that you NOT grind on the hull. Rather you should scrape all of the balsa core off with a scraper and then use a Random orbit sander with 60 grit to sand the bottom of the hull to clean it as best you can and then wash it down with Acetone to prep it for the new Balsa core. That's all you really need to do. The Epoxy will adhere well enough once it's sanded and cleaned. No need to get real aggressive. The thin outer layer of glass along with the epoxied balsa core and the inner layer of glass and epoxy is where this hull get's it's strength. Separately they are very weak!!!

 

[nytony11]

That's what I figured the grinder ate it up.

 

[nytony11]

 

[nytony11]

 

[nytony11]

Most of the balsa is out and the transom is clean. The transom looks like wood but is actually glass that has the imprint of the wood. The next step is to grind off the big chunks of old glass then sand the hull. The transom skin is very thin but not as thin as the hull. I plan on using poly for everything and hope the greenish yellowing stuff on top of the glass isn't epoxy I don't know how to tell? Another day of cleaning then sanding/grinding lightly....

 

[nytony11]

Part of me wants to put a fee layers of glass down and add one main stringer up the middle and not do balsa.........?

 

[sphelps]

I,m no expert on the subject but maybe that's not a bad idea .. A center stringer and maybe 2 short ones on each side ..
Just wondering if there is any reason you can't .. :noidea: