FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

[juggernaut22us]

Background- Receved this boat on a trade June of last year 2012 and put around 50 hours on her riding up and down the river. When I picked up the boat the guy said his buddy one day fell on top of the boat off the dock and landed his big butt right ontop of the boat putting a hole in it. They didn't fix it correctly, only rivited a piece of sheet metal and then used some kind of filler to smooth it out. It began cracking up by the end of the summer and I put the boat up for the winter. This year I decided to fix it and began ripping the old patch job out. This is where I'm at now in the pics and could use some expert advice on how to proceed.

1st) I was going to use wood to prop up the cap of the boat and reframe the inside with new wood so its sturdy and strong and in the shape it needs to be before fiberglassing.

2nd) I have read all the forums and youtube videos available on how to fiberglass and seems fairly simple with the exception the time and patience it will take to get it done correctly.

3) What kind of fiberglass should I use/buy? (how many ounces, cloth pattern, how many yards?

How many pieces should I cut, Looks like I need to do both sides inside and out, any ideas on where the 1st piece should go?

BUT..... Does this look like the hole is in such a stress spot that a professional should fix it? About how much would a professional charge just an esitmate all said and done the final cost?

 

[Bondo]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,.... I donno whether yer capable or not, only You can answer that question,...

What I do know is, that's an extremely Stressed point, 'n it needs to be strong to hold the shape of the hull...

Poly resin, 'n glass is in yer future,... I'm sure others will be along with more details...

Yer probably gonna need to build a cardboard form to lay the 1st piece,....
It'll be self-supportin' after that...

 

[juggernaut22us]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Your words are encouraging and this would be my 1st Fiberglass job...

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Oh Boy. That's a big repair. Being a Newb to Glassin, it will be a challenge but if you want to attempt it, there's some of the best help you could ever want right here on this forum. Any chance your camera has a flash and you could take some pics of the underside?

 

[juggernaut22us]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Any chance your camera has a flash and you could take some pics of the underside?

I will take pictures from the inside of the bow and under the lip of the cap this evening and post them tomorrow or tonight. Again I'm glad to hear this is fixable, but it is located in a very stressed spot and going to be a challenge to patch.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Would you be agreeable to removing the windscreen and the topcap from the boat?

 

[juggernaut22us]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Would you be agreeable to removing the windscreen and the topcap from the boat?

I have removed the windshield already to do some of the sanding and investigating but put it back on just so i could cover the boat again.. The windshied removes easy but taking of the entire cap of the boat would require about 5 guys and then where would i set it? on the ground? I was planing on removing the bumper around the boat and framing the cap so it fits correctly on the hull.... you know using temoraly wood braces on the inside and clamps to hold the cap lip againts the hull... Once the shape is as good as I can get then i would assume begin resin and glass.... Why the need to remove the enitre top cap?

 

[Bondo]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

I have removed the windshield already to do some of the sanding and investigating but put it back on just so i could cover the boat again.. The windshied removes easy but taking of the entire cap of the boat would require about 5 guys and then where would i set it? on the ground? I was planing on removing the bumper around the boat and framing the cap so it fits correctly on the hull.... you know using temoraly wood braces on the inside and clamps to hold the cap lip againts the hull... Once the shape is as good as I can get then i would assume begin resin and glass.... Why the need to remove the enitre top cap?

Ayuh,.... 'cause it's easier workin' on it right side up, rather than up-side down, 'n gravity will work with ya, rather than against ya...

The bulk of yer Structural repair will be on the back side...

 

[juggernaut22us]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Oh I see.... instead of laying on my back on the inside of the boat trying to patch, you suggest taking the whole top cap of and flipping it upside down so I can get at the repair more easily....... Still seems like a lot of work taking the whole cap off....but I get your point now.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Yep, You got it. Removing the cap is NOT all that bad and you and 3 buddies can do it. 4 saw horses and some 2x4's and you'd be in business in about 4 hours. Realistically if You Stayed with it and Planned it all out, had your materials on site, you could start on Friday night, effect the repairs iand have the cap back on the boat by Monday Morning even being a Newb. Resin, Mat, cabosil, glass bubbles and 1708 Biax, rollers, brushes Acetone Respirator gloves Talcum Powder etc.. and you can "Git er Dun!!!!!"

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Without the experience of this kind of work, it would be a tough job. I am fairly capable, but I might consider a pro for the job. Question for the panel...could one tape the area creating a mold base of sorts then spray it with a foam product. Once dried, remove the tape and glass the mold you have made; or leave the foam mold for support encased in glass. This "method" is used often in custom car building and other hobbies so, although a process, should work.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Yeah..the cap is the easy part.

"Resin, Mat, cabosil, glass bubbles, 1708 Biax, and Talcum Powder"

WOG...you make it sound so simple. I gotta to get to Oklahoma!

 

[juggernaut22us]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

"Resin, Mat, cabosil, glass bubbles and 1708 Biax, rollers, brushes Acetone Respirator gloves Talcum Powder etc.."--
Now were getting somewhere....

Any suggestions on the below would be much appreciated:

What type of RESIN?--West System 105A Resin - Quart/West System 205-B Hardener
MAT?--what is that, laying the fiberglass?
CABOSIL?--never heard of this product
GLASS BUBBLES?---use the rollers to get out the bubbles?
1708 BIAX---this is the fiberglass to use
rollers? to get out the bubbles?
Acestone? to clean area before and after....
Respirator-understood
Gloves-understood
Talcum Powder?--no idea
etc?--what else?

 

[juggernaut22us]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Without the experience of this kind of work, it would be a tough job. I am fairly capable, but I might consider a pro for the job. Question for the panel...could one tape the area creating a mold base of sorts then spray it with a foam product. Once dried, remove the tape and glass the mold you have made; or leave the foam mold for support encased in glass. This "method" is used often in custom car building and other hobbies so, although a process, should work.

I'm going to take it to a professional just to see what they say and get an esitmate, but I'm thinking this would be over a $1000 for a pro and more like $500 or less to do it myself.....either way it will be a tough decesion...on one hand don't have much money to throw at the PRO and the other hand don't want to be out on the river regreting my work....

 

[Bondo]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

"Resin, Mat, cabosil, glass bubbles and 1708 Biax, rollers, brushes Acetone Respirator gloves Talcum Powder etc.."--
Now were getting somewhere....

Any suggestions on the below would be much appreciated:

What type of RESIN?--West System 105A Resin - Quart/West System 205-B Hardener
MAT?--what is that, laying the fiberglass?
CABOSIL?--never heard of this product
GLASS BUBBLES?---use the rollers to get out the bubbles?
1708 BIAX---this is the fiberglass to use
rollers? to get out the bubbles?
Acestone? to clean area before and after....
Respirator-understood
Gloves-understood
Talcum Powder?--no idea
etc?--what else?

Ayuh,... Polyester resin is Much cheaper, 'n will do yer job, just Fine...

The Mat goes 'tween the layers of glass to supply a resin rich bonding layer, 'tween the glass...

Cabosil is a brand name of a thickenin' agent... talcum powder is also a thickenin' agent...
so's the resin don't run outa the glass as it sets up... Also why flippin' it over helps..
'n the glass bubbles are used with the cabosil, 'n powder to make fairin' compounds that sand out easier...

Acetone is mostly for clean ups...

 

[juggernaut22us]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

so far Great help you hve been Bond O

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Hey, it's gotta be simple. I'm just an Old Dumb Okie and I can do it. Well, Kinda!!! Bond-o set you right cept for the Talc. You rub it ALLLLLLLL over your Bodeeeeeeeeeeeeee to keep from itchin so much when you go to grindin on all that glass!!!!! But he is right that you can use it for a thickener too!!!

 

[sphelps]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

All I know is you could sure see that purdy pink boat a mile away coming up the river ! Are you going to paint or try and match the gell coat ?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

The rub rail needs to come off in that location.

No You dont need to uncap the thing .. just get the location of the repair workable ..

Your almost there .. you need to grind/feather a bit more on the outside like you have it. Yes you can duct tape the inside for a form ( use stir sticks or whatever to help shape for the outside lams ).

At some point you should have at least 3 layers of 1708 on the inside for backing.

Just watching the thread too ..

YD.

 

[juggernaut22us]

Re: FIBERGLASS a "BIG HOLE" --1973 MFG Super Caprice

Thank you all for the advice you have given... I will be taking the boat to the mechanic Friday for a tune up on the engine and plan on beginnng this project as soon as the mechanic is done. I will try and take pictures of the progess made and post accordingly as this might turn out to be a good example of how to patch a big hole for future members.

I rode it around all last year on the crap job the previous owner did, jumping and riding through wakes and the rest of the boat held together solid but the patch job came apart.... So thinking I do this right it will hold together 10 times better than just som rivits, sheet metal and filler.