My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

[v-twindad]

Hello fellow boaters and builders, I am new to the site but have been lurking for a while just checking out all of the knowledge that lives here, and I now I need help. I just purchased a 1991 Sanger DX ski boat for a good deal (I Hope), $3000.00, With just 15 hours on a new 350 Mercruiser the previous owner ran it into the rocks and punched the rudder thru the hull, His insurance totaled the boat so needless to say he got a new boat. The pictures tell the story. The rudder itself was not folded over until they tried to load it on a trailer that was to small, in a haste to remove it from the water they drug the rudder on the ground resulting in its position now. I would like to know if "This Guy Saw Me Coming" or "Wow What A Deal". I am very mechanical, I have lots of tools and a garage, but very limited knowlege of fiberglass repair. Can you guys walk me thru the repair or do you think that I should have the proffesionals tackle this project? I am very budget minded, but not by choice so what do you think someone would charge just to do the glass work? As you can see the I have the boat all apart and now I need more direction. Thanks for your time, Now lets fix my boat....

 

[v-twindad]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

Here is some more pics. Let me know if you guys want more..

Thanks
Chuck

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

you have a horrible structural repair. i'm not sure where to start. it is a major repair. since that area takes a lot of pressure.

 

[tommays]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

It looks like all the glass from the rudder forward to the stabilty skeg is totaled from the extra thickenss in the picture it looks like it has a core for strenth

before you get to far i would price out the rudder and supports as well as the skeg as it will be high dollar

 

[45Auto]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

Looks like you got a deal to me. Cut out/rebuild/reinforce/refinish damaged areas and you won't be able to tell it's not brand new. I'm surprised that the reinforcement plates over the rudder are as small as they are (maybe to keep it from sinking if they get ripped out???). Post over in the "Restoration" forum where Oops or some of that bunch will see it, lots of good advice on fiberglassing and reinforcement over there.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

I don't think it is too bad. It will be some work, but it could be a lot worse. Do you have all of the components (rudder, strut, prop shaft, stuffing box, etc)? If not, start there. That is where the repair $$ will be.

The fiberglass repair in that area will not be difficult. However, it does need to be a structural repair. You'll need to study up, but you need to understand how it was built (ex: what was used for coring in that area) and then rebuild and integrate it into the remaining good stuff. In the end, you will make a composite sandwich of structural fiberglass, a core material and epoxy as the bonding agent.

I guess it was totalled because it was a 1991 boat.

 

[v-twindad]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

Is there a way to just move this post to the restoration area? or do I have to start over.

Chuck

 

[v-twindad]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

I do have all of the components, but will have to replace them, ie. shaft, prop, rudder and strut. the stuffing box is all there, it was complete when I got it and I took it all apart yesterday.

Chuck

 

[tommays]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

You will need to make a tool that will hold the the stuffing box in the correct aliment with the motor when your redoing this area this is a bit tricky even at the factory

 

[Robj]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

I do have all of the components, but will have to replace them, ie. shaft, prop, rudder and strut. the stuffing box is all there, it was complete when I got it and I took it all apart yesterday.

Chuck

Hard to tell from the pictures what the damage is to these parts, but before I start replacing I would look into how much it would cost for a machine shop to repair them and then decide whether buying new is the best option.

The fibreglass part should be easy, but like others have said it is structural keep that in mind when you do your repair.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Nandy]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

Doable, very doable. How much does a new 350 Mercruiser runs for now?
However, check the parts pricing, check the price to have a pro fix the fiberglass, then check what old parts can be fixed. Then you have an idea how much is the boat going to cost you. You might consider bite the bullet in the fiberglass repair, it is not in a place you want to make a rookie mistake, imho.

 

[v-twindad]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

Thanks for all the input, I am going to remove the exhaust and get it so everything will be removed in and around the area, then I will take it to my local fiberglass shop for a quote, They will not have to touch anything except the fiberglass, they should be able to just pull it inside and start grinding, I will let you guys know how much they want in the next day or so. I would like this thread to stay alive until I post some pictures with it on the water.

Thanks
Chuck

 

[v-twindad]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

Any bets as to the quote for just the glass repair?

More than 500.00 but less than a 1000.00

More than a 1000.00

and my personel favorite, less than 500.00

 

[fuzzeywiggler]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

$25

 

[v-twindad]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

I like your style Fuzzy....I got the exhaust out of the way and dug into the core piece a little, it is just a plywood core covered in glass. It looks like they just took a piece of plywood sealed it with epoxy, glued it to the bottom of the hull and then fiberglassed over the top of it. Where would I take my hardware to have repaired? I got the rudder apart and it looks like the shaft is bent, is this somthing that someone can repair? and also the strut does not appear to be to bad, who should I take these things to so they can determine if they are servicable or not? Hopefully repairable...

Thanks

Chuck

 

[oops!]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

you scored.....in canada thats a minimum 15,000 boat.

as far as the rudder and mechanical parts, im at a loss.

as far as the glass and structure.....30 man hrs @ 75 hr...(in canada)
(disclaimer.....im lousy at estimating hours but that ones easy)....

obviously....thats a guess, as im not standing over it......all they are going to do is cut out the area, and re glass in a patch and paint it.
as far as aligning the drive. i havent worked on ib's....so i cant give you accurate info......but a glass shop will know. be prepaired to spend 5-6k on the whole proj


if you want to take this on as far as a personal project.......a month or three will do it
but you'll be far ahead.

if you dont care about the boat, and just want the money....your 3 k is easily doubled. (1k for the trlr, 500 for the tower, 3k motor, misc. 1500.)

personally, id just take a circ saw to the bottom, cut out the damaged area, and glass in a new peice.
you can use mock up parts to make the alignment correct.

let us know what you decide, and ill talk to some friends about how to fab the thru hull.

cheers
oops

 

[v-twindad]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

Thanks oops, is the object to remove the core piece first (plywood) to get down to the fiberglass, then cut out the small areas of damaged skin, lay up over the damage and then rebond a new piece of plywood to the bottom coated in epoxy then glass over the top of that. in short.

Step 1: Remove plywood core trying not to disturb the the skin to which it is bonded to.

Step 2: cut out damaged areas of skin, Circles or squares?

Step 3: bevel edges of cut out areas, then clean area with MEK.

Step 4: ??????, Dont know what size or type of glass to use or epoxy, and anything else I might need. Is there two types of glass I need, Glass and mat or something to that effect?

Step 5: cut first piece of glass to the same size as the hole to be repaired, next piece, a piece of mat 1/2 inch larger, then glass then mat and so on till the repair is flush with the exsisting skin.

Am I on the right track? and what materials do I need?

Thanks
chuck

 

[v-twindad]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

Or just take a cutoff wheel and cut the whole piece out, skin and all?

wow that sounds scary......

 

[drewpster]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

To align the shaft it will be necessary to adjust the engine mounts so that the flange on the output shaft of the transmission and the flange of the prop shaft are flush.
With the shaft, stuffing box, and strut installed make slight adjustments of the engine mounts and use a feeler gauge. Rotate the shaft with the flanges in contact with each other until there is zero gap between the flange faces and the faces are flush.
Temporarily bolt the flanges together.
On the out side of the boat at the strut visually verify that the shaft is going straight through the strut by looking closely at distance between the shaft and the edge of the cutlass bearing. If there is any bind between the shaft and bearing shims can be used under the strut mount to correct it. The shaft must pass through the bearing as straight as possible to allow water to pass through the bearing lubricating it. After any changes are made go back and re-verify that the flanges remain flush.
All this can only be done correctly after you verify with a shop that your parts are straight and true. My guess is that you will need a new prop shaft. If the strut is made of nitrile bronze and it is not too badly damaged, it can be straightened.
After the initial adjustment put the boat in the water and verify that the flanges remain flush to within .002-.005 inch. Do any final adjustments with the boat in the water and floating off the trailer. This will compensate for any changes in shape while the boat is floating.

 

[Robj]

Re: My New Broken Boat, HELP.....

Or just take a cutoff wheel and cut the whole piece out, skin and all?

wow that sounds scary......

Try and keep the outer skin intact, it will make it much easier. Remove the old ply, grind out the effected areas, being careful not to go through the outer skin, reinforce with glass and epoxy, install the new ply, glass over.

For this type of repair, I would use epoxy.

With regards to your damaged mechanical parts, have a machine shop check them out to see if they are repairable.

Have a great day,

Rob.