suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

Over30S130

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Oct 25, 2010
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I recently acquired an very early model Ranger 168V. PO informed me that the damage was repaired as a DIY backyard prooject. Not sure how the initial damage occurred or the extent. No holes, I think-just impact or stress cracks. He did atleast remove some of the sprayfaom on the interior of the hull and repair the inside with glass mat and resin and may have mentioned some extra wood bracing added as well. I have seen this yet as he appeared to have re-glassed that portion of the floor that was needed to gain access to the interior of the hull from the middle of the topside boatdeck by the steering console. He also said that he removed the motor and flipped it upside down for the bottom repair If Ok, I'm trying to get away with the simplest, but safe repair. The current visible issues are one or two 6" long cracks that will leak whenhull is subjected to water thru filling topside through transom/gas tank area. One crack on either side of center keel ridge. These cracks run parallel with ridge and are located at the base of each ridge where the flat part of the hull meets the base angle of the ridge. I can't remember the names of these and their purpose at the moment. Anyhow, on the other side of each ridge/crack, there is some visible repair running the length of the boat of say a 6" by 24" single mat layer with a thin coating of resin applied. Them resin here is discolored and some of the mat is peeling possibly due to age, poor application, or being subjected underwater speed conditions. The ridges themselves appear to have had some damage as they have more fiberglass mat layers and a little better repair job done. The current cracks/leaks appear to be just outside of any previous repair. PO did not divulge how the initial damage happened or either I missed that part, but said he did the best he knew how with resin and mat from both inside and out. Then on a subsequent outing when having it back on the water, he smacked an oncoming wake from a larger passing boat just right and later noticed his boat taking on water after getting to his favorite fishing hole and starting to fish. His pumps must not have been working properly or he would have noticed this sooner. It was confirmed when he decided to head back in and the rearward sloshing of water on takeoff came out of the deck drain hole at the foot of the driver/passenger seating. He assumed that he must have re-injured the repair job when earlier hitting the wake. He did not feel like doing it all over again, atleast right away and eventually just purchased another boat.

Could I safely use something like MarineTek to fill these cracks from the bottom and what to do about the flaking resin and mat in the other areas? would I just need to remove the loose material or all of this particular type of scanty repair and see what is underneath, as surely it will come off eventually as evident of what is seen so far and considering it will be subject underwater speed conditions as well again. With this part of the repair being somewhat transparrent, I don't see much damage underneath here, but not for sure. These areas may well be like putting an ACE bandage on a scratch, so-to-speak, and doesn't appear to be leaking here,yet. there are other areas on the bottomside that appear more well done and don't have that fiberglass mat/resin texture and have atleast been painted with some kind of white paint. This is my teenage son's boat and he is anxious to try it out, but we have all Winter to work on it if need be and safety comes first. Best scenario would be to make all repairs from the bottom hopefully without having to move boat on trailer or suspend above or remove trailer from underneath. Topside carpet will need to be repalced, but don't want to re-cut and repair floor yet again either. I have electric and air paoer tools and familiar with surface autobody repair. I definitely would not attempt Bondo for the repair, but am thinking that there might be some viable product solutions out there which would give a safe repair without having to re-open everything again.
 

Yacht Dr.

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5,581
Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

Welcome to Iboats :)

Sounds like some grinding and glassing is in your future :(

If its leaking then marine tex would not be the best option.

The old repair is more then likely going to have to removed and redone.

Some Pics would be Very helpfull if ya have them.

YD.
 

Over30S130

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Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

So much fo the quick way-thanks. How did I know that a picture request would be forthcoming? They always help, don't they? Havn't ever posted any and not sure how or if I can yet-don't know if I have posted enough or does it matter. I know how to upload them to a folder on my PC-can they get posted from my PC like you paste into an e-mail or power point? Is marine tex just for gouges and surface repair?
 

Woodonglass

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Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

Check out my signature for a thread on how to post your pics from your PC.


I'm just sayin...:D
 

Over30S130

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Oct 25, 2010
Messages
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Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

Thanks woodonglass, that will be very helpful. I thought it would be very similar to creating a powerpoint presentation-sounds like it is. If it is not(exactly), you're info. here will fill in the blanks. I will try to post pics soon.
 

Over30S130

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Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

I have been searching around this site and this is what I have come up with. I have two 6" cracks in the middle of my hull right at each rib line on either side of the keel center line-in other words not located in a relatively flat part of the hull, but in the crease of a hull line. I re-exposed the inside of the hull by removing the deck patch from previous owner. I found that the two center stringers that form the center tunnel cavity were completely gone-removed in previous repair. The only thing left was the outside laminite of each center stringer which holds the foam to the outside stringers. I'm thinking that this lack of support caused the hull to flex too much when encountering the oncoming wake damage. Was going to remove this and rest of foam to see what the outside stringers looked like and to open up the hull area some more so I could see better what I was up against. Was thinking of just sanding off all old repair and wipe with acetone and then apply a sheet of 1.5oz. mat and 18oz. or 24oz. woven roving big enough to cover the two cracks and futher strengthen the hull as well. Then lay in my new stingers using the same two layers. Will this work for the crack repair? Also what layers will need to go on top of the repalcement whole in deck to weatherproof and strenghten deck repair hole? In addition, there is some shotty single layer glass and resin to the bottomside gel coat which is peeling. whould I just need to sand all this repair off as all the repair would be on the inside now and if so, what would I use to repair the sanding damage and cracks on the bottom gel coat. What would be the best resin for this job-epoxy or poly? Any suggestions to this proposed repair will definitely be considered.
 

Over30S130

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Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Upon thinking and readind about this further, these cracks or located between the trailer bunk boards and the rib line. Maybe hard boat loadings onto trailer or excessive trailer bounce on roadways(hitting bump or pothole) has caused a stress crack in the hull near the outside edge of trailer bunk board given that there are no center stringers at the moment. Would I need to feather the crack area out about 2" and fill the area with cut-to fit pieces to bulid up thickness in this angle grinded crack area and then proceed to laminate a larger portion of the bottom inside middle section of hull with bigger sheets for added strength and then stringer replacement. Would acetone be the correct chemical to use after sanding to ensure a good clean prepped area for fiberglass/resin bonding?
 

Woodonglass

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Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

You really need to post some pics if you want the guys on here to help you out. It is almost impossible to visualize your problems based on your dialogue alone. See my signature line on an easy way to post your pics.

I'm just sayin...:D
 

Over30S130

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Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

I was wondering if you would see this again. I was taking some pics of the boat itself for before/after purposes and when I went to take some of the damage, my camera ran out of memory because my memory chip was missing. I have loaded these pics already and have yet to get around to snapping the actual damaged areas. Based on your comment, i will be sure to get some real good detailed pics so that I can get some good feedback. Just wanted to see if I could get some feedback until then based on the new information I found.
 

Yacht Dr.

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Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Is this the same boat as stated in your other thread ?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=447794

If so then its Way better to keep questions in the origional thread m8..

YD.
 

Over30S130

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Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

It is the same boat. I was trying to get some newer and different responses, by starting a new thread. I realized after the fact that I probably could have acheived almost the same results by just updating to the original thread and not confuse things by duplicating threads. I have pictures now and will be posting later today to the original thread as attached in your reply.
 

Over30S130

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Oct 25, 2010
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Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Well, I tried to upload the pics from my computer and I keep getting a file upload failure-even tried compressing file. Any suggestions.
 

Over30S130

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Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Here are the pics of my son's '79 Ranger that he basically scored for free-'90 engine checks out fine-just wondering if I need to pull the cap off to repair stringers and hull cracks.
 

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Over30S130

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Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Re: Need repair solution verification for leaking cracks in hull

Here are some more looking from the top side through the hole made in the deck. Looks like the inside stringers were removed on the previous repair and the only thing left is the outer fiberglass laminate of what is left of these stringers. In one of the pictures of the stringer by the console, there is a gap between the stringer and the hull. The raw wood that can be seen was used to support the replacement plywood to fill in the hole made in the deck. Not sure what condition the transom is in ,but there are small stress cracks at the top on either side and there is a pretty hefty stainless steel plate that is preformed to lay in the angled part of the transom area and goes up and over the transom and down the back.
 

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Yacht Dr.

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Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

Its just my opinion thats screaming everything in the pics is wrong...

Bad bad repairs..bad stringers..etc..

If it was for basically free. then consider a transplant :)..

This thing looks like its a big buck resto to me...

YD.
 

Woodonglass

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Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

That is a trailer with a motor. I do NOT see a boat at all. I see Chain Saw fodder. I would NOT touch that boat. If I was bored out of my mind with nothing better to do, I would FIND something better to do.

I'm just sayin...:D
 

Bob_VT

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Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

Its just my opinion thats screaming everything in the pics is wrong...

Bad bad repairs..bad stringers..etc..

If it was for basically free. then consider a transplant :)..

This thing looks like its a big buck resto to me...

YD.

Ranger makes a nice hull design however they are not a rough water boat such as a few other bass boat designs ....... but they are a fast hull.

Based on your description and photos YD hit the nail on the head big buck to do it.......

What we are looking at is a hull that would have to be 100% stripped bare and start from scratch.

Your heart/wallet will best make that decision. That is a great motor.
 

Over30S130

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Oct 25, 2010
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Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

Well, thanks for the replies and input. I know the pics are only showing the worst aspects of the boat and that in itself is not promising, but given the fact that it is free, I guess I'm not out anything if I uncap the hull and do what a few others have done on here that I have seen. I kind of like the challenge and the fact that I'm not out anything initially is some motivation. It will take some work and time, but it's not like I need it for transportation or making payments on it atleast. As I have seen on this site, everything seems to be fixable given time and money. Sure, if I could score another boat 'for free' in better condition that did not have a motor and trailer, I would be that much more ahead. Atleast there are no big gaping holes and even that I have seen repaired on this site. Looks like I will uncap the hull and see what else lies underneath. Anyone else curious. I will be sure to post pics of any progress for those inquiring minds. Thanks again form the inputs so far. I would not even attempt to go any farther on this project myself or even spend the money to pay a shop to do it if I didn't have this site as a resource. I've learned alot just from searching this site and would like nothing better than to prove you guys wrong, so to speak-to each his own, I know. Everybody has an opinion and it is understandable the opinion on this one based only waht is seen so far-does look kind of bad at first sight. What was the previous owner thinking when doing this repair-he obviously didn't have the info. from this site. He removed the motor and flipped the boat, but that's about all that was done halfway right.
 

Over30S130

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Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

Looking on the brighter side of things, atleast I have a free motor and trailer, but the downside is that it is one more project taking up space around the house, according to the wife-if you know what I mean. Good thing I have I have plenty of space "around the house".
 

smokeonthewater

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Re: suggestions for repair of prior hull damage repair

the point others are trying to make here is that repairing that hull is NOT the cheap way to go. The glass and epoxy resin alone will be very pricey and the likelyhood of a failed repair is very high for a first timer..... With some aggressive shopping you should be able to score a hull for under $1000 and likely under $500. Or you could sell the motor and trailer separately for enough to buy a complete setup.
 
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