Top Shell Crack Patch Method

[SleepyShane81]

I have a late 60's Glasspar Flying V boat. The boats in good restorable shape. The main area of concern is the top shell where the windsheild mounts. It has cracks from most likely people pulling themselves over the windshield and walking on the closed bow when docking. I was planning on liberaly patching the crack from underneath and filling crack with epoxy. Does this sound correct? I might reinforce this area with wooo, maybe tie top shell bow are to sides or dash area. I shouldn't have to remove top shell for floor or transom replacement if it becomes required. The rear splash area unbolts from the rest of the top shell. I would like to hear what you guys think.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Shane<br /><br /><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a351/glasspar/Dscf0409.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"><br /><br /><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a351/glasspar/Dscf0410.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"><br /><br /><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a351/glasspar/Dscf0412.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

 

[G DANE]

Re: Top Shell Crack Patch Method

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[bigboy]

Re: Top Shell Crack Patch Method

Hey, fiberglass underneath. It's not easy without flipping the boat over and than i woul fill the crack like you said. I would reinforce the bow like you say. You could make a few stringers in wood. You could saw pipes in two and fiberglass them in. But without flipping the boat it will be hard.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Top Shell Crack Patch Method

There is more to that crack than just people pulling on the windshield, check it out, there could more going wrong under there than you think.

 

[G DANE]

Re: Top Shell Crack Patch Method

Nice boat Sleepyshane81, and welcome here. I think, like others, the hole front deck needs support. Those cracks appears when going in chop, and the deck flexes with the weight of the windshield. If your boat has developed floor and stringer rot thru the years, this will affect hull stiffness and create an all-over flex too. If you find floor solid and no flex, I would support the front deck with wood stringers across, glassed to the deck. It CAN be done without turning boat over but that takes rutiene in glass fiber work ( requires wettet mats to be applied upside-down ) Lay something like a 2 1/2 x 2 1/2" as close to the windshield base as possible. Post back if you need further advise, I've done it before.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Top Shell Crack Patch Method

Hi Shane, That does look like a good candidate for a resto, it appears to be all original from what can be seen in the pictures. It's too bad about the cracks but anything can be fixed, right?<br /><br />I personally would not tie the deck to the lower half of the boat in doing a repair for a few reasons. First it would make future work requiring seperation that much more difficult. Second it will look like an obvious repair and if an original type restoration is your goal the repair will stand out as a blemish. Third I'd be concerned about the possibility of shock and vibration from the hull transferring in a focused manner to the area repaired depending on how you intend to make the connection.<br /><br />You could probably get a very strong repair simply by using a quality epoxy and filler and a few layers of glass cloth underneath. You could add a lot more strength by sandwiching a layer of 1/4 inch plywood into the repair making it large enough to cover the cracks and go beyond far enough to spread the stress over a larger area. Perhaps a single piece under the width of the whole windshieldextending forward a foot or so? Of course I'm only imagining what the underside of your deck looks like but I'd guess you could make this type of repair more or less disappear if you have a flat surface to work with. It's gonna be fun working upside down though!