VOID IN BOW FROM MOLDING PROCESS?????'S

[Sean Riddle]

MY '62 FABUGLAS HAS A HOLE IN THE BOW THAT IS ABOUT 8 INCHES LONG ABOUT 3/4 INCHES DEEP THAT WAS ORIGINALLY MOLDED INTO THE DESIGN OF THE BOAT. I CAN SEE THIS VOID "HOLE" IS NOTHING MORE THAN A HOLDING POINT FOR ANY WATER THAT MAY ENTER THE BILGE AREA. I HAVE A FEW STRINGERS TO REPAIR AND WAS WONDERING IF IT WOULD BE WISE TO FILL THIS MOLDED VOID IN WITH EPOXY AND CLOTH TO KEEP ANY WATER FROM STANDING IN IT ONLY TO BE SPLASHED AROUND ALL OVER FRESH STRINGERS AND BOTTOM OF NEW DECK? WHEN I GOT THE BOAT OUT OF THE OLD BARN IT HAD ABOUT 3 FEET OF MOSQUITO INFESTED WATER BEING HELD IN IT(TOWARDS THE BOW). I LET IT DRAIN FOR A WEEK AND BEGAN REMOVING THE SPONGE OF A DECK IT HAD ON IT. AFTER DECK WAS GONE I LET EVERYTHING DRY SOME MORE , ABOUT 3 DAYS AND THIS "VOID" STILL HELD WATER. I DONT THINK THIS VOID HAS ANY SIGNIFICANT PURPOSE OTHER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND FLUSH WITH REST OF HULL. ANY THOUGHTS???? THANKS , RR

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: VOID IN BOW FROM MOLDING PROCESS?????'S

You're on the right track, and seem to have a grasp on your situation/project that puts you much farther ahead of the game than many good folks I see here.<br /><br /><br />I'd recomend you continue to march, and fill that void with whatever is handy, or you see fit from your perspective. <br /><br /><br />'Glass & mat it over, or maybe just include it in a pour of 2-part foam as you near completion of what you're doing, if that part of the hull isn't under much stress. <br /><br /><br />Just keep in mind:<br /><br />1. Anything that adds strength- or utility to the boat is good.<br /><br />2. Extra weight that doesn't serve a purpose is bad.<br /><br />3. Places that water can get trapped in are bad. (see #2)

 

[Sean Riddle]

Re: VOID IN BOW FROM MOLDING PROCESS?????'S

Thanks Ed , Those tips are great!!! I am gonna get that thing dried out then glass her over so she won't hold anymore water in the nose.I love the pics of your boat man that thing is awesome , bet she can haul *** too huh Thanks again for the response, RR

 

[JasonJ]

Re: VOID IN BOW FROM MOLDING PROCESS?????'S

Glass it in, it won't hurt. There were elements in my original setup that I changed when I rebuilt my rig. When they built these boats, I don't think they thought they would still be in use 30 years later, combined with the fact that I doubt they gave a lot of thought to any sort of rot prevention.

 

[Sean Riddle]

Re: VOID IN BOW FROM MOLDING PROCESS?????'S

Thanks Jason!!! I agree, I believe they just shuffled 'em out the door as quick as they could sell em just like they do these mostly plastic cars and trucks now.But the molding process seems to have been the best part of the building process on these old boats. Like you say they probably didn't expect the deck to last for 15 years or so if that long so why coat the bottom of the deck or completely glass in the stringers . But I can say this, I bet this old '62 Fabuglas will still be makin wake when these new "Plastic" automobiles are out to pasture Thanks again, RR

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: VOID IN BOW FROM MOLDING PROCESS?????'S

Originally posted by Riddlers Ride:<br /> bet she can haul *** too huh

///////<br /><br />Glad to help. But you should probably listen to Jason more than me. har, har, har,,,<br /><br />He gives sound, prudent advice like your parents would. I'm more like your (evil) older brother that passes on bits of wisdom he's learned in reform school, or jail.<br /><br />Anyway,<br /><br />Thanks for the comments on 'POCO LOCO' (little crazy), or as many of my Hispanic friends around here have said, "No, it should be called, 'MUCHO LOCO'.<br /><br />Its a hoot. Tromp down on the 'Hot Foot' and it tries to turn your sunglasses into contacs.<br /><br />We're taking it out tomorrow. Hooty and myself will function check the new Stator, and play around with 3-4 different props & set ups on the tilt & trim to see if we can get it over 70 while keeping the Tach. under 6000.....with $1.75/gal. pump gas.<br /><br /><br />Here's something I've discovered that you might need to know on your project:<br /><br />If you switch over to the 'no-feedback' steering system, it locks down with a small clutch when you let go of the steering wheel. That way you can brace one foot firmly down on the gas pedal, the other on the dash, and it leaves both hands free to hang onto the cockpit walls as your sunglasses become form fitted contac lenses.<br /><br />Ed.<br /><br />Oh, <br /><br />Keep in mind that new boats are built by folks that will never own them.<br /><br />They build them for 'so many $ an hour', or 'so many $ each'. All they have to do is be able to sell boats.<br /><br />---------- sort of like fishing lures. <br />If you are in the Lure making business- you don't have to catch fish,,,, you just have to catch fishermen. <br /><br />The folks that build them will never have to fix them, or probably not even ride in them.<br /><br />They don't care how long they last, or how easy they are to work on.<br /><br />All they need to worry about is if someone will buy the darn thing after they've spend a few minutes doing what they do to help construct it.<br /><br />After that,,,,,, whoever ends up with it at some point in history is on their own.