8' livingston boat repair

[nnwwfishman]

I just got a little 8' livingston boat and there were some scratch(outside) and a leak(outside) on it, I planed to repair it as a samll lake fishing boat. The first pic is the leak which I could push it in and feel soft. The second pic is the scratches which is hard and could not be pushed in. I am a new owner and know nothing about boat. Could any experienced owner give me some advise on how to repair these.

I did some search and learned that this kind of boat are fiberglass materails and filled with foam. I planned to patch the leak and scratches and then spray a layer of gelcoat. I need to know what materials I should purchase?

And I didn't see any space for the foam to be filled because the hall and bottom is so thin. So could I just patch the leak/scratches without fill in the foam? I'am appreciated if anyone give me suggestion. Thanks.

 

[kcassells]

Hey,
Welcome aboard.
I'm sure you'll get some more feed back than myself from the guys/gals here.
On a quick answer I would suspect that since that 1st pic there's a good chance alot of the the other foam got wet too and may need to be replaced. You should open a few other areas to confirm that the rest has not been compromised. If it has it'll need replaced.
More than like the foam was a "formed" component {1 pc.} that was applied and glassed all at once to the design by the mfg. and not a spray foam. There are alot of rigid foam board out there {the pink stuff} in different thicknesses that can be shaped easily and reapplied to match the existing.
Then you could glass and gelcoat. But why do a small quick patch and simply check out the rest and be comfortable knowing you won't have to back at it again.

KC

 

[nnwwfishman]

Hi KC,

Thank you for suggestion. I'm not a handyman and am still in learning process. Hope I could finish this project before summer.

 

[ondarvr]

I have two of those boats. What you see is normal, they all suffer from the same issue, the hull is rather thin and wears though quickly when it's drug around or banged.

It's best to re-glass the entire length of each keel, on one of mine I Actually re-glassed the entire hull on both sides.

Read more threads here on doing fiberglass work and you'll get a good idea of how to do it.

Depending on the year there is no foam in the hull, and don't worry about it at this time.

 

[kcassells]

I have two of those boats. What you see is normal, they all suffer from the same issue, the hull is rather thin and wears though quickly when it's drug around or banged.

It's best to re-glass the entire length of each keel, on one of mine I Actually re-glassed the entire hull on both sides.

Read more threads here on doing fiberglass work and you'll get a good idea of how to do it.

Depending on the year there is no foam in the hull, and don't worry about it at this time.

Ondarvr,
So was it wood and not foam?
Cool you have the same boats and support is going to be great for nnfishman.

 

[ondarvr]

Ondarvr,
So was it wood and not foam?
Cool you have the same boats and support is going to be great for nnfishman.

There are empty floatation chambers located at the bow and stern of each hull. They use cardboard forms and lay the glass over them.

The rest of the hull is just a single layer of CSM and roving.

 

[nnwwfishman]

Hi Ondarvr,

You are right, I drilled two holes on right bow chamber and left stern chamber outside of hall( in the mid of the original scratch), water comes out! Thank you very much. Before repairing this. I have another question. Do I need to cut open these two champer from the inside of the boat to set a cardbord as backing? Or could I only put the roving and resin and fiberglass form outside of the hull (because the hole is not big) to pacth it?

BTW, what does CSM mean?

Thank you

 

[nnwwfishman]

There are empty floatation chambers located at the bow and stern of each hull. They use cardboard forms and lay the glass over them.

The rest of the hull is just a single layer of CSM and roving.

Hi Ondarvr,

You are right, I drilled two holes on right bow chamber and left stern chamber outside of hall( in the mid of the original scratch), water comes out! Thank you very much. Before repairing this. I have another question. Do I need to cut open these two champer from the inside of the boat to set a cardbord as backing? Or could I only put the roving and resin and fiberglass form outside of the hull (because the hole is not big) to pacth it?

BTW, what does CSM mean?

Thank you

 

[ondarvr]

You can do it all from the outside, and build it up thick, it will wear down again soon.

I drill holes in the floatation chambers and left them there, these chambers fill with water on almost every one of these boats. it would be better to drill hole large enough to put a regular boat plug in it though.

It's just a term for fiberglass mat.