Radar Arch Repair

[nitsuj]

Hi gang, I have a few questions for the experts. I have the radar arch pulled off my boat (86 Bayliner 2550) And I need to redo the wood structural members inside it. The original wood is literally powder. I was planning on cutting new wood and coating it with resin and installing it. What I need to know is what wood would I want to use for this project? My plan was to use exterior ply, then coat it. Also, what is the best way to hold the wood to the arch? Will the resin I coat the wood with also act as an adhesive to glue the wood to the fiberglass inside the arch? I can't really glass over the wood and I don't want to screw through the arch into the wood. I'm going out to get the wood and resin today, so I just want to make sure I get the right stuff. Thanks all.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Radar Arch Repair

Pics of what you are trying to do would be a big help in making a proper decision. Hard to determine exactly what you are describing.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Radar Arch Repair

Attaching 2 pictures. They show the bottom of the arch, the part that mates to the side of the boat when it's bolted in place. You can see the channels in the arch where the wood goes. In one picture, you can see what's left of a piece of wood that was removed. I need to put new wood in the channels and drill the mounting holes through it. Does it make more sense now?

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee285/nitsujcbr/Someday/2010-04-09120547.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee285/nitsujcbr/Someday/2010-04-09120604.jpg

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Radar Arch Repair

Ok. Here's what I would do. Use Exterior Ply. Coat with Epoxy resin and use the epoxy to glue to the structure. Make sure to rough up the surface with 80 grit sandpaper. Use 6 Inch Fiberglass tape to "Tab" in the wood to the structure. (See my ROUGH Drawing) Drilll your holes and make SURE to coat the holes with epoxy to seal them. Don't want water gettin in there again.

You could use Mahogany for the wood due due it being very rot resistant. Kinda pricey but yuu don't need that much. You can and should make sure and use the Fiberglass tape to secure the wood to the structure.

Good luck and keep us posted with your progress and more pics. You might want to resize your pics 640 x 480 is iBoats suggested size.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Radar Arch Repair

Fiberglass cloth does not like sharp edges so try and round over the edges of the wood and fillet the edge between the wood and the structure to allow the cloth to "Flow" without creating air pockets. Since your area is small you should be fine.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Radar Arch Repair

Attaching 2 pictures. They show the bottom of the arch, the part that mates to the side of the boat when it's bolted in place. You can see the channels in the arch where the wood goes. In one picture, you can see what's left of a piece of wood that was removed. I need to put new wood in the channels and drill the mounting holes through it. Does it make more sense now?

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee285/nitsujcbr/Someday/2010-04-09120547.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee285/nitsujcbr/Someday/2010-04-09120604.jpg

Your arch was pulled from a mold, building one from wood and glassing it will not look like that without a ton of fairing and sanding and fairing and sanding.

Its a LOT easier grinding the wood out of the original and redoing it.
It just looks like wood strips to support thru bolts, no biggie.
Epoxy will give you time to get it all aligned and bolted up.
Or glue it first then drill it.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Radar Arch Repair

I don't intend to build a new one. I took out the old wood and want to install new wood. Sorry I wasn't more clear about that. I just wanted to make sure I used the right wood and resin.