68glasspar
Seaman
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2024
- Messages
- 63
I have a 1968 Glasspar Avalon 15.5ft. I purchased this from a friend whose father bought it new, so i have history on it! It never spend the night on the water, it was aways in the garage at the end of the day. It was basically a time capsule!
The only problem i encountered with is it never had a transom saver on it and the transom was cracked and rotten. I cut the back fiberglass off leaving a 4in border around the edge. then i replace the wood with mutiple layers of marine plywood that was both sealed with and bonded in place with west systems epoxy. I then tapered the 4in border and laid in 10 layers of laminated 1708 fiberglass. The inside of the transom was then tabbed into the sides and floor with 4 layers of 1708 fiberglass. The fiberglass on the outside was covered with marine bondo and then a barrier coat, before adding color matched gelcoat.
This was earlier period for fiberglass boats and was laid down with sprayed chop-strand.
How many more years can these old boat last? Is there proven expiration date?
The only problem i encountered with is it never had a transom saver on it and the transom was cracked and rotten. I cut the back fiberglass off leaving a 4in border around the edge. then i replace the wood with mutiple layers of marine plywood that was both sealed with and bonded in place with west systems epoxy. I then tapered the 4in border and laid in 10 layers of laminated 1708 fiberglass. The inside of the transom was then tabbed into the sides and floor with 4 layers of 1708 fiberglass. The fiberglass on the outside was covered with marine bondo and then a barrier coat, before adding color matched gelcoat.
This was earlier period for fiberglass boats and was laid down with sprayed chop-strand.
How many more years can these old boat last? Is there proven expiration date?