Crack along the keel

[BAJ]

I have a 1995 21' Cobra team Viper bass boat. It has developed a crack along side the keel. Before I cut a hole in the floor, how do I know what is under the plywood floor?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Crack along the keel

Baj, You likely have stringers and foam under the floor. Is the floor carpeted or white fiberglass?

If it is carpeted, you might pull up the carpet and see what shape the plywood floor is in. You will want to fix that crack from the inside, if possible. You will need to cut away the plywood floor, dig out the foam, lay glass over the crack, refoam and replace the floor section. You may also encounter some structural defect caused by stringer rot or manufacturer's defect. The crack could have also been caused by collision or hitting waves/wakes at high speed.

 

[BAJ]

Re: Crack along the keel

Thanks Chris. I believe it was caused from hitting a large wake at 70 mph. I was wondering if there might be anything I shouldn't cut through just under the floor. I was hoping to find an exploded view of the boat. One person that I talked with about repairing it was worried about the gas tank.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Crack along the keel

You will certainely need to locate the extents of the gas tank, for safety sakes. If you set your skil saw to the thickness of the plywood floor (usually 1/2"), you should only cut away the floor, leaving the stringers untouched. You want to cut away the floor, inspect the stringers and foam, and then remove what you need to do the repair. I would start by removing the floor over the crac. You will need to cut the floor away so that the edges rest on the center of a stringer. You will want to screw the new floor to that stringer, when you replaceit. Like you were sheathing a house, have the seams fall on a stud or joist.

 

[BAJ]

Re: Crack along the keel

Thanks for the info. I plan on starting this coming weekend.