Fiberglass Repair help please!

[erikgreen]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

No way. That hull with that damage and no running gear in it is worthless. It's not like this is a boat that was in like new condition and just recently took a good whack. It's clearly been sitting out in the elements for a long time. It's going to need a LOT of work.

Well, I didn't say *everyone* would pay that for it. I just know I could take a boat hull that new, pay that for it, install a drive train, fix the glass, clean and update the interior, and sell it for enough to make a couple thou on the deal at least.

But maybe that's me

 

[jmcknight]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Well, I between talking to you guys and a buddy of mine, I have definitely ruled out driving 5 or 6 hours (1 way) to pick up a hull.

I did just get off the phone with a local boat dealer that has a 2000 year hull (he said cobia but cobia didn't make bowriders in 2000) that has 2 holes in the bow where he hit it with a forklift.

He said I could have the boat for free. Seems hard for me to believe that the repairs could be more difficult that the ones I have now, atleast as far as the fiberglass goes. So I will check it out and see what happens. It is atleast 5 minutes away so nothing lost looking at it.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Free....Cobia...hull?

What color is the sky in this mythical place you live in?

Nice score

 

[oops!]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

depending on where the holes in the hull are....they might be as hard to fix as yours....you wont have to pull the cap...but thats not hard any how...
if the holes are below the waterline....you will still need to pull the deck and foam....and do an inside out repair...plus...the dealer has probably stripped EVERYTHING.
i mean EVERYTHING......you will be looking at an empty hull shell.

 

[oops!]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

cuz what i'd do would be to swap that powertrain into an $800 aluminum starcraft and have a really nice boat.)

ez :d:d:d

 

[oops!]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

btw....i am in the middle of doing a jet flea that had worse damage than that...it got caught UNDER a dock in a storm....the constant rising of the waves pounded the top of the boat into the underside of the dock....it was written off by the insurance company.....

the owner would not let me pull the cap. so i did an outside repair...the side footwell was far worse than your boat there was nothing left...
i am just finishing the body work. after the body work is done..gellcoating is 10 mins then a 30 min polish and done.

your hull is fixable

 

[jmcknight]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Well the cobia was a 1991 16 or 17'.

Between 3 and 4 feet down from the very front of the bow there were a bunch of scratches and a couple 4 to 5 inch holes.

Interior was pretty well shot, gauges were gone, there was a block the back but have no clue on the status of that.


I do have even better news though, atleast i think it is better news. I called a guy near the inlaws and asked him what he had. He first went on and on about an '88 that he had. Finally I got a word in and said I was looking for something much newer. I then explained him my entire situation. I told him I had a sea ray etc etc. He said "did you have a guy in Alachua that does fiberglass take a look at it?" I said yeah, he said "he told me your situation and that this boat was the exact same as yours, it's a '97 sea ray, interior is pretty bad, but the hull is solid and you could just put your interior in and take this one out."

So, i have found my boat!

I hope..... hopefully he doesn't try to hose me if this is a perfect fit for me.

He said he should have the title in a couple of weeks. The boat isn't worth the repairs that it needs he says, unles someone has all of the parts it needs for $100 =D (of course i didn't tell him how much i paid for it.)


I am quite stoked about this, this seems to be the best solution for me.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Awesome! I hope it works out.

 

[jmcknight]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

man this is frustrating!

"oh, it's actually a 170, 1991, and it had a v6 instead of a 3.0 so you'll have to do some work to the stringers for the motor mounts but that's all!"

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Aw hell-that'l buff out...

 

[jmcknight]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

alright, so moving on from looking for another hull.

Everything i am finding has it's own problems, that i have to pay to get and then pay to fix.

Question 1) I had not heard of arborite until reading your posts, oops, is that the same as laminate or a specific laminate?

does home depot / lowes carry it?

I will definitely pull the cap and use a mold to fix the bow.

I am going to start prepping now, and hope to start the fiberglassing in 3 or 4 weeks.

Have company coming in for the next 2 weekends so won't be able to start until grandma goes home.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Pretty sure I've seen arborite at the home centers. It's the stuff peg board is typically made out of so maybe it's near there.

 

[howlnmad]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Pretty sure I've seen arborite at the home centers. It's the stuff peg board is typically made out of so maybe it's near there.

It could also go under the names of hardboard or masonite.

I wish I could stumble across a deal like that

Good luck

 

[oops!]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Everything i am finding has it's own problems, that i have to pay to get and then pay to fix.

that is the problem with just about anu used hull.....unless you are lucky enough to find one with a cracked block that the owher does not want to repair....but thats rare too,,,because if the hull is good the owner will uasually replace the motor

Question 1) I had not heard of arborite until reading your posts, oops, is that the same as laminate or a specific laminate?
.

arbourite might be a canadian name.
it is also called formica....
it is used on all counter tops...kitchen and bathroom.

forget home depot.....go to the wholesaler and ask if they have scrap peices....they will give them to you

 

[jmcknight]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

am i able to create curves easily with the arbonite / hardboard?

the top of the hull has some curves obviously, and i will also end up doing some modifying to the seats in the interior, going to put a bench seat in the back instead of jump seats.

what about using countertop laminate instead of the arbonite?

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Same thing. Formica will work, basically you want to use the shiny or smooth plastic hard top they put on counters to protect them. A glossy look will give you a glossy finish on the part it casts, etc.

Resin won't stick to it, so it's nice for that, plus it's both flexible and it works as a sort of batten... basically it makes a nice smooth, fair curve when bent between surfaces, so the parts it molds in place look natural.

I just picked up a piece at my local Menards that is 3 feet by 8 feet with a 3 inch by 6 inch chunk out of one corner. Cost was $8.

Erik

 

[jmcknight]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

ok, formica i know!

darn canadians!

i'm going to start an outline tonight on everything i need to do, a step by step as to what i need to do, so i can make sure i get everything and not have to stop on sunday afternoon when i'm cruising along because i forgot to get something (which i'm generally known for)

 

[jmcknight]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Ok, started an outline, it's on google docs, anyone should be able to view it. So please post your suggestions answer questions as you can, and tell me i'm wrong wherever I have a statement that is retarded. I'm going to end up going into pretty significant detail on this outline. I'm never an organized person, but i think this will be a much easier project for me if i do stay organized.

Here it is (also in my signature)

 

[jmcknight]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

So along the chine of the hull, it's about 4 or 5 feet long where the marker scrapped the bottom of the boat at that corner. Should I cut an area out of the floor pretty much the same length as the scrape along the bottom, or should i go a good bit farther to make sure and reinforce before and after the visible damage as well?

i'm thinking start out going the length of the damage about 6" wide and 4" away from the edge of the hull.

Thanks again!

 

[boltonranger]

Re: Fiberglass Repair help please!

Let me just say kudos for deciding to fix your boat.
I just finished what was (to me) a difficult repair to my 22 year old boat motor.
Now that it is complete; I am very glad I did the work. I learned a great deal, fixed the boat; and gave myself a god deal of confidence and peace of mind over something that started out a mystery to me that I was considering paying to have done.

I've read thru Oops' mega-thread and enjoyed it. I guarantee if you take your time and persevere it will have been the best 100 bucks you spent. Particularly if you like learning and accomplishing new things.
-Good luck!
-br