Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

[Steve Mahler]

OK guys I am having a REALLY bad day. Went to pick up my next project, a sweet little 14' MFG with a non running 40hp Lark. I carefully checked the trailer and began making the 100 mi trip home. Front strap to the winch let go at 60 mph in heavy traffic, heavy rain. Thank God the boat did not hit a car, and the lower unit broke off and flew into the weeds, not traffic.

I dont care much about the Lark, since it was non-running anyway. But the sad news is that the back corner of the hull bounced off the gaurdrail, breaking the 'end corner' clean off. It is purely a decorative break - the gunnel and transom are undamaged. So, anyone have an idea how much it will cost me to have the corner (say 7 inches wide by 3 high) re-shaped?

I found the part that broke off---so atleast someone would have a form to work with for reference...? ideas?

 

[sourbsted]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

OK guys I am having a REALLY bad day. Went to pick up my next project, a sweet little 14' MFG with a non running 40hp Lark. I carefully checked the trailer and began making the 100 mi trip home. Front strap to the winch let go at 60 mph in heavy traffic, heavy rain. Thank God the boat did not hit a car, and the lower unit broke off and flew into the weeds, not traffic.

I dont care much about the Lark, since it was non-running anyway. But the sad news is that the back corner of the hull bounced off the gaurdrail, breaking the 'end corner' clean off. It is purely a decorative break - the gunnel and transom are undamaged. So, anyone have an idea how much it will cost me to have the corner (say 7 inches wide by 3 high) re-shaped?

I found the part that broke off---so atleast someone would have a form to work with for reference...? ideas?

Can you take some pic's? Hard to say without looking at it

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

Sorry to hear that. Lets see how bad it really is.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

The bigger question is: have you learned from this experience to always use a safety chain or strap and not rely on the winch to hold the boat?

You got away easy this time--no one was hurt. When the lawyers get involved-----

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

I will attemp to show the pics I had, and yes this has been a lesson. The 20/20 hindsight thing is that I did bolt a lock through the winch, so it couldnt unwind. I never expected the winch cable to shake apart!...anyhow, lesson learned.

Here are the links to the pics...this is my first time posting pics

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/SSMAHLER/MFGDamage1.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/SSMAHLER/MFGDamage2.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/SSMAHLER/MFGDamage3.jpg

Thanks for your thoughts, help!

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

I will attemp to show the pics I had, and yes this has been a lesson. The 20/20 hindsight thing is that I did bolt a lock through the winch, so it couldnt unwind. I never expected the winch cable to shake apart!...anyhow, lesson learned.

Here are the links to the pics...this is my first time posting pics

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/SSMAHLER/MFGDamage2.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/SSMAHLER/MFGDamage3.jpg

Thanks for your thoughts, help!

To post the pic from photobucket, just copy the IMG line under you pic and paste it into the reply area.

 

[omgitzdave]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

It says your from Upstate NY. On what highway/road did this happen?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

It's not too bad. If you have the piece, then cut the broken edges as clean as you can on both the boat and the broken off piece of gunnel. Then mix up some epoxy with thickener like cabosil, or chopped glass to make a thick putty. Then attach the piece using the epoxy. There will be large gaps to fill, that is why you mix it up like putty, so it can be formed and fill the gaps.

If you can hold the piece in place with a few screws or tape until it cures, all the better.

After it sets, then grind and sand smooth and repaint. Looks the the corner of the transom took a hit, that too can be built up. Check that area for hidden damage, especially on the inside. Look for cracks in the corners and along the floor.

Those MFG's are tough little boats. You will probably make out just fine.

PS you can use polyster resin in place of epoxy, it will be cheaper, and you will be using quite a bit, maybe a quart or two.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

Damage? That's nuthin'. Fix it yourself. Couple of hours spread out over a couple of days should do it.
Take some cardboard and cut, tape, and shape it as a template. put it behind the raw roving that shows. Buy some mat, roving, and resin. Build up thickness with mat and top off with roving, then a final layer of cloth. Then buy some gelcoat and cover the repair.

If you still have the broken off part, just re-glue it back on and use plenty of mat behind it to reinforce the repair. Use lots of sanding to fair in the repair, then gelcoat.

You don't really want to go to a body shop or glass man. What they will charge you will make your eyes water.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

Thanks for the comments and encouragement. The accident happened on the thruway near Auburn exit 40, in driving rain and 30mph wind. And rush hour traffic. I am certain it was a miracle that I was in the slow lane and no one hit the outboard leg as it broke off.

Anyhow, the part that I saved is only partial...so I dont know that I will try to 'glue' it in place...I have never worked with glass etc. Anyhow, I am going to talk to a couple local shops, see what the price looks like. This is a great little hull, currently I have a restored 20hp evinrude that I will put on it...but looking for another 40 ish now that I trashed the lark.

Last add on question, how best to sell the Lark powerhead and electric control, ebay? here?

 

[sdunt]

Re: Boat fell off trailer! Glass help needed

also consider that body shops that work on Corvette's do fiberglass work. But you really should be able to repair it yourself.

Now depending on how precise you want to get you could, make a mold of the other side, but it would be hard to transpose it right to left. If want to make a mold you can use fiberglass and poly resin. Wax the devil out of the original part, put a layer of mat and several layers of cloth on it to make the mold, let it set and pop it off.

Here are a couple of books you might see if you can locate at the library or buy used copies on half.com:

you can probably find this one at the library: The Fiberglass Boat Repair Manual by Allan H. Viatses
http://www.amazon.com/Fiberglass-Bo...0255336?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176991609&sr=1-2

Book I got at the library and then bought a used copy on half.com for $3.00
http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ4478978QQcpidZ1186450896

Also in the repair, you can use wood or metal or cardboard as already suggested to form, or back up the repaired area.

Now this may sound really weird, but if you use epoxy resins, poly resin will melt this, you can use polyurethane foam, spray foam and cut and sculpt it to match the original shape. Then cover that with epoxy and fiberglass mat and cloth.. You can use saran wrap to cover the parts you DON'T want to the foam to stick to.

Here is where the foam 'form' idea originated from: http://dope.dhs.org/Car_Stuff/Tech_Articles/DIY_Intake/Build_Your_Own_Intake.html

You didn't say it you need to match the gelcoat or not.. Could be difficult, I have not personally dealt with that.

Good luck..