Suggestions for fixing these small cracks under bow rail base?

[jbutler67]

Suggestions for fixing these small cracks under bow rail base? Only 2 bases have these small cracks. Others are good. Bolts under this rail base are NOT rusty. Not yet.

Thanks in advance. I appreciate the great help on this forum.

 

[Scott Danforth]

pull the bow rail.

from the looks of it, the deck coring may be bad, as there is a circular crack at the stanchion base.

once the rail is off, inspect everything. if the core is good, simply grind out the cracks, patch the area, match the gel and anti-skid, then reinstall the bow rail.

if the core is bad, you will be cutting a section of the deck up to replace the core

what kind of boat?

 

[jbutler67]

Thanks Scott.

1986 Rampage 24 Express.

Only two of the bases have these cracks. All others look good (see attached).

 

[Scott Danforth]

pretty sure that is a balsa cored deck.

the first photo has me concerned because of the circular crack almost all the way around the stanchion base.

you still need to pull the rail
you still need to sample test the core
you then need to patch the fiberglass and the gel.

you will need to make a mold of the non-skid area so you can patch the bad area.

here is a video that explains what i am talking about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eZLorXTNys

 

[Scott Danforth]

when you blow the pic up you can see the circular crack

 

[jbutler67]

Thanks for the link to the video!