Fiberglass hull Question

G

groove40

Cadet
Joined
Sep 5, 2005
Messages
6
Hi

My boat (fiberglass century arabian 19ft)
has a seperation in the hull, It is like there is a inner hull and a outer. On the left side rear, When inside the boat you can push on the inner fiberglass side and it moves seperatly from the outside. Seems like there are 4 layers in the hull :
from inside out, Chop? then about 1/2 inch of some type of foam, then the Fiberglass Cloth/weave? Then the outer gelcoat, The foam and the fiberglass are no longer bonded. Seems like the chop? on the inside crack along the seem where hull and topside join, Any Idea's on how to fix this?
Can I just cut the chop? (I'm calling it chop but not sure what it is, random stands of fiberglass no pattern) About a inch below the crack and glass cloth in to repair it? should I run son type of resin down between the foam and outer hull to get them to adhere? The chop is atached to the foam pretty good.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/help

Lou
 
G

groove40

Cadet
Joined
Sep 5, 2005
Messages
6
Re: Fiberglass hull Question

studlymandingo said:
Check out this article about fiberglass delamination: http://www.yachtsurvey.com/Fiberglass_Boats.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, but it showed damaged boats?

Delamination is basicly what I had? The chopped mat and foam were still attached but the foam deattached from the hull.

What I did (seemed to work hope it lasts) Was Drilled four holes 1 inch dia through the chopped and foam about half way down in the affected area.
Then where the deck and hull attach, (this is where the chopped glass cracked) I trimed about a inch away.

I then took some pieces (4 inch x 8 inch) of plywood and cut 2x4's different lengths, put the plywood against the inside of affected area and propped the plywood squares with the 2x4's. this pushed the seperated chop/foam back against the hull. I checked through the holes and across the crack I trimmed,It seemed like the chop/foam fit tight against the hull again.

I took the props away, and put a couple wedges across the top where it was cracked and I had already trimmed a inch away to open up a space between the foam and hull.
I mixed up a couple cups of resin (poly) and poured down the inside of this opening, when it started coming out the drilled holes I then put the plywood props back in place to snug it up. Across the top I took out the outer snaps (for mooring cover) and ran longer screws (with big washer and rubber backers) through existing holes to a long peice of 1/by. this squeezed the foam/chop to the hull at the top, near the crack. The mixed resin squeezed out across the crack and out the drill holes.

I let this sit for about 6 hours, Took away the props and unattached the 1/by. The side now seems solid, I am now going to reglass the crack at the top with strips of roving. and after that dries I will re drill the screw holes for the screws that hold deck and hull together. and probally put a strip of wood on the inside for the screws to go into.

Also before I did it to the boat I mixed some resin and tried it on a piece the chop/foam I cut away and a piece of fiberglass I had from another part of boat. The resin did glue the two together. Foam would not come off. the chopped pulled off before the foam.

Does this sound like it will hold up?? Thanks again
Lou
 
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