Noob here looking for some fiber glass info

mrkrsll

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Sep 7, 2017
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So I just got a 12' fiberglass boat. I think it's a GameFisher, but not too sure. The hull is in great shape, it's never been patched, but the inside looks terrible. The transom was rebuilt and is solid.

I started ripping some stuff out such as the home made casting deck and I'm realizing the fiberglass hull and side walls are less than a 1/4" thick.

I plan on restoring the inside, such as the center support benches and a new casting deck.

Should I re glass the the whole inside to build it up before I start rebuilding?
The flexing is pretty crazy, but it's definitely the way the boat was built originally.
 

vietcu

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Aug 5, 2017
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I'm no expert. But my boat flexed like crazy too once I removed all the stringer and transom.
 

mrkrsll

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I'm no expert. But my boat flexed like crazy too once I removed all the stringer and transom.

Thanks for the reply!

I have not removed much yet. The two center benches are still intact as well as the transom, but even just pushing on the side wall a little, you can feel it's paper thin. It's an older boat and not sure if that's how they use to build them. The out side hull it's fairly smooth however, the whole inside you can see the bumps from the original glass cloth clear as day.
I just figured a boat would have some what thicker walls...
Again, im very new to anything to do with fiberglass.
 
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CrazyFinn

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Dec 12, 2016
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Most glass hulls are not exceptionally thick (especially with a 12' boat). They don't need to be. The stringers, transom, and the shape/curvature of the boat provide the rigidity. If you make the hull too thick, it just gets too heavy.

The way boats are made in a mold - the outside gelcoat goes in the mold, then the layers of glass, so the outside is smooth, but the inside is generally the rougher/unfinished cloth. This is normal.
 

tpenfield

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I had a 12' GameFisher back in the day . . . I believe that hull was sort of an injection molded fiberglass rather than layup. Still solid enough for a boat of that size. I would not add fiberglass, because the extra weight will not be a good thing. Only add in areas where there is damage. if any.

IIRC, those boats were a fairly flat hull in the stern with a bit of a V in the bow. Closed chambers of the seats were the flotation.
 

mrkrsll

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I had a 12' GameFisher back in the day . . . I believe that hull was sort of an injection molded fiberglass rather than layup. Still solid enough for a boat of that size. I would not add fiberglass, because the extra weight will not be a good thing. Only add in areas where there is damage. if any.

IIRC, those boats were a fairly flat hull in the stern with a bit of a V in the bow. Closed chambers of the seats were the flotation.

I was thinking of putting a floor in and re do the bench seats. The seats were repaired at some point and they are now starting to Crack off.

Do you see there being any issues adding a floor? Also, what is in the seats? Some type of pray foam?
 
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Scott Danforth

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I'm no expert. But my boat flexed like crazy too once I removed all the stringer and transom.

you would flex like crazy if we removed your spine and skeleton
 

Scott Danforth

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I was thinking of putting a floor in and re do the bench seats. The seats were repaired at some point and they are now starting to Crack off.

Do you see there being any issues adding a floor? Also, what is in the seats? Some type of pray foam?

the foam is a 2-part flotation foam. its also part of the structure.
 

tpenfield

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On the 12' Gamefisher that I had as a kid, I thought the seats were just sealed chambers filled with air. Not sure though :noidea: just remember that is was colored duck hunting green :rolleyes:

Got any pictures of the boat to post ?
 
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mrkrsll

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mrkrsll

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Sep 7, 2017
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I started tearing the inside of this boat apart and I am glad I did! Not only was the transom rotted, but under both seats was soaking wet plywood and Styrofoam which was full of mold!
At first, my plan was to rebuild it the way it was originally with new glassed in center support seats, but seeing it?s all open, I figure it?s a great opportunity to pretty much build it however I wanted.

I put an image of it in MS Paint and did some rough lines showing what my idea is.

https://imgur.com/Shr1UZb

It would be nice to have the benches length wise instead of side to side, but seeing the benches acted as supports, I am thinking I need to have some type of flooring to give the benches something to attach to.

Anyone who has done a smaller boat like this one, do you see an issue with changing the orientation of the benches?

There are a few other issues I am trying to sort through as well.

In order to glass wood stringers in, am I going to have to remove all paint where the glass and resin need to adhere to?

Under the gunwale, The side wall has started chipping and is very thin, can I just build this up with resin and cloth and replace with wood sandwiched on each side?

https://imgur.com/UzhZJlY


As far as the transom goes, the shaft of my motor is a little longer then it. From the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull if 15 ??, but from the cavitation plate to the top of the mounting clamp bracket it?s 17?. When building and laminating the wood for the transom, should I have it curved up when the motor mounts an 1 ??

https://imgur.com/nO8T46f


Here are some more pictures of the tear down. I?ll keep updated as I progress!

https://imgur.com/b0qYXan
https://imgur.com/14S5HCT
https://imgur.com/PGJngoR
https://imgur.com/qZ2m1Qz
 

mrkrsll

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Sep 7, 2017
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I started sanding the hull and I am uncovering a lot of stuff I didn't expect to see. Under the paint, there seems to be material that looks consistent with some type of plaster. Out of curiosity, I sanded through the plaster like material and for the most part, the fiberglass hull is under there, but near the back in the corners, its almost as if someone tried building up the transom and did a real bad job. Its as if the back corners have all been wrapped. I've now started removing all the loose fiberglass.
Should I sand everything down to the factory fiberglass?
Would a gel coat be required after doing that or just primer and paint?


https://imgur.com/YmB3eiO
https://imgur.com/me2rbBX
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
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Dec 29, 2009
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25,924
The Putty stuff looks to be fiberglass Filler. You can gelcoat or paint it. All areas to be reglassed need to be sanded down to fresh glass and wiped down with Acetone prior to applying the fresh glass.
 

Ned L

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Sep 17, 2008
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Fun little boat. I am curious about your concept for her. Are you thinking about long bench seats down each side of the boat and keeping the center open? Keep in mind this is a light little 12ft boat, so there isn't a whole lot of stability there. You may not be happy if you can't sit on the centerline. I really don't know much about casting decks, but if they are for standing on, it may be a bit like a tight rope walking experience on this boat.
 

mrkrsll

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Sep 7, 2017
Messages
22
Fun little boat. I am curious about your concept for her. Are you thinking about long bench seats down each side of the boat and keeping the center open? Keep in mind this is a light little 12ft boat, so there isn't a whole lot of stability there. You may not be happy if you can't sit on the centerline. I really don't know much about casting decks, but if they are for standing on, it may be a bit like a tight rope walking experience on this boat.


Two long bench seats down the side is what I was thinking, but you bring up a good point. I may re think the layout where I would be sitting. The guy I got the boat from had a make shift casting deck set up. My 11 year old son fished off of it for the day, it didn't seem too unstable...I wouldn't be fishing off it though.

I want to buy a bigger boat next year, but in the mean time I figure I would use this boat to learn some basic's about fiber glassing!
 
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