Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

[jimmy120]

I recently purchased a 1973 Larson 1600 boat. I took it out on the water this past Monday and it worked perfectly, however, I did notice it took on a bit of water (too much for my liking). I brought it back home and discovered the previous owner had made several patches with some kind of putty looking stuff. The putty bond wasn't very strong, because i could peel it off. I peeled it off and found my leak on the right side of my boat (tri-hull). The leak was coming from a gouge on the right side of the boat on the bottom. It appeared as if the previous owner struck a large rock then patched it with putty, the gouge was approximately four inches long. I will post pics later.

I found some JB Water Weld at home. I was wondering if this would do the trick or should I go with Marine Tex, Bondo, or a fiberglass repair kits. JB Weld or Marine Tex seems to be the easiest solution. I am not very skilled and was wondering what would be my best approach to this... :redface:

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

Forget the putty stuff...... sounds as if there is a fiberglass learning curve in your future. It is not had to do and it will make the best permanent repair so you do not sink!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

Welcome to iBoats!!!

Bob is Corectamundo!!! Post some pics! It will help us to help You! Fixing it will not be that big a deal. With the help of all the guys on here you will be able to do it in a few hours and she'll be good as new.

 

[jimmy120]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

Pics of the damage..

 

[jimmy120]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

Any suggestions? As you can see the area is still wet from it taking on water. Is it okay to fix it while its wet?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

Any suggestions? As you can see the area is still wet from it taking on water. Is it okay to fix it while its wet?

Your going to have to grind and glass that repair..

First off you need to let it dry..that dripping water seems to indicate that you have water pooling on the inside at that location.

Can you get to the inside where that repair is ?

YD.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

Your going to have to grind and glass that repair..

First off you need to let it dry..that dripping water seems to indicate that you have water pooling on the inside at that location.
Can you get to the inside where that repair is ?

YD.

Ayuh,... Ditto that,...

No repairs will work in runnin' water like that....

 

[boaterinsd]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

I recently purchased a 1973 Larson 1600 boat. I took it out on the water this past Monday and it worked perfectly, however, I did notice it took on a bit of water (too much for my liking).

I am wondering did you go to Bonney with it? Just wondering cause my x- father in law used to go there all the time with his boat.
Welcome to the Forum, and the Larson owners club. I have a 73 larson, you can see the pics on Photobucket from the link in my sig.

 

[jimmy120]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

I am wondering did you go to Bonney with it? Just wondering cause my x- father in law used to go there all the time with his boat.
Welcome to the Forum, and the Larson owners club. I have a 73 larson, you can see the pics on Photobucket from the link in my sig.

Hi and thanks for the welcome. I bought the boat a couple of days ago. I have only had the boat out once and it was on the North Sterling Reservoir. I will check out your photos.

 

[jimmy120]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

"Your going to have to grind and glass that repair..

First off you need to let it dry..that dripping water seems to indicate that you have water pooling on the inside at that location.

Can you get to the inside where that repair is ?

YD. "


Thanks. I will fix it with the fiberglass repair. Do you have any fiberglass kit suggestions?

 

[gettin_wet]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

yes, i too have had similar problem but fixed inside and outside... go to bass pro shops off i-70... they have a kit 25 dollars has everything you need..

 

[jimmy120]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

Ayuh,... Ditto that,...

No repairs will work in runnin' water like that....

Nope, I cannot get to the inside without tearing up my floor. I may dry it up with a heat gun and then put some fiberglass over it using a repair kit.

 

[Kiwifisher]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

With that type of damage first prize would be to repair from inside and outside but seeing you don't want to tear off the floor, you need to at least cut the hole open completely and thoroughly dry the the inside and damaged area before even attempting a fix. Do some reading and research on the forum, there are plenty of very good advice on here from some pretty knowledgable folks. If however the hull is filled with foam and the foam is waterlogged, you'll need to go the whole nine yards.

Just sticking a patch of glass on that damage will a) seal in the moisture/water causing internal rot of deck, stringers and any other wood and b) the patch will not last long as the area is so damp.

Don't despair though, it's not such a big job as it sounds.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

Ok..so you cant get to the Inside .. then next is to make sure there is no pooling inside.

In the center of the repair drill with a 3/16" bit slowly until it drills through. let that drain ( you may have to poke up there with a coat hanger from time to time til' it stops draining.

After the water stops .. grind a bit of that bad glass off ( do not grind Through the hull ! ) .. get some pics up after that for review on the next step.

IF you have wet foam in there ( and you dont have the resources to do a complete deck/stringer/trans build ) it is possible to temp fix this from the outside.. I say Possible until next set of pics are up .

YD.

 

[DoogieTroudt]

Re: Help! Repairing a damaged Hull

I have been fixing fiberglass for 20 years. These guys are right get it dry... just find a place to put a small hole in the floor and put a access door over it so you can keep and eye on it ( i have used a6" crome drain cover to cover a hole) The reson i say this is if it is wet fiberglass seperates into useless splinters. You can do from the bottom dry. In sterling there is a body shop store. Go in and ask for some 3m, duramix, norton pannel bonder for fiberglass or smc. I have glued semi trucks with it.. it is 10 times more durable than fiberglass its also more expensive.. get like the 90 min give you time to sand sand sand clean clean clean blow off the dirt. The mixing gun is expensive but usually they have one to rent or borrow. build a piece to put back in and use this stuff to glue it in.. after it drys sand and re apply if there is holes still (blame it on gravity) then you can use fiberglass and mesh over that. If not message me with ph ect i can explain over the ph. I just know water goes in 4 times farther in than the leak its self just like rust. you can build forms by putting tape over the boat where the holes at.. then get an old shirt soak in fiberglass resin.... stick to tape over the boat.... its a mess damn gravity... let dry pull off sand add mesh and re resin let dry shape to fit.. glue in ect wear lots of old clothing and gloves. I just bought my first boat 73 glastron. It needs some glass work not bad. I am puting those crome drain wall covers on just so i can make sure i dont end up sinking my self..