Bow splitting open...HELP!

[dduesing]

I have a 16 foot sailboat that is splitting open at the bow. The split is growing and is now 10" long and 5/16 inch wide at the widest point. The boat has 3 major parts, the hull, an inner hull that makes up a floatation cell under the cockpit, and the deck. The boat is dry inside and has not been in the water for about a year. Can I patch this from the inside out somehow, or am I looking at taking off the rub rails and totally separating the inner and outer hull to do this. Can I open up the split, install a piece of preshaped wood, screw it tightly to the sides along the edges of the split, then use some carbon fiber to reglass over the fix?

 

[redfury]

Re: Bow splitting open...HELP!

it all depends on your access. The original problem is that the glass was not built up enough...and the nose has been rubbed a few too many times.

You might want to invest in a keel guard type product after you repair the split.

Totally repairable though.

 

[dduesing]

Re: Bow splitting open...HELP!

Thanks Red. I think I'm going to try boring a 2" diameter hole on the bottom end of the crack, insert a arched V shaped wedge that is the same curviture of the bow and epoxy that in place. Then I'll grind away a couple of layers of glass on either side and back about 3" from the bow line. Then I'll insert some countersunk stainless screws to attach the sides to the block of wood and layer up a couple layers of carbon fiber over the whole mess. Sand, prime, paint and sail. Sounds easy, but will be a real pain in the "elbow"

Whadda ya think? Anyone? What kind of wood would hold up to some occasional water and humidity? Teak? Mahogany?

 

[jonesg]

Re: Bow splitting open...HELP!

heres a much easier way,

Just cut away whatever is blocking you from getting at it from inside the boat , the more access the better. A sawzall works wonders here.

Grind or sand with with 80 grit power sander 4 inches both sides , wash area with acetone and lay 3 layers of polyester and mat all in one shot, extend repair out to 4 inches both sides of the slit.

then do the outside with marine putty and paint or gel coat.

the structural part of the repair should be done inside the hull.

then fix the cut out peice you had to remove for access. done.

 

[dduesing]

Re: Bow splitting open...HELP!

I would do just that but it would mean disassembling the entire boat to access the inside of the outer hull. I was hoping someone would come up with something clever they had seen done before from the outside without having to do the repair from inside the hull. Thank you though for your thoughts.

 

[redfury]

Re: Bow splitting open...HELP!

You could do the repair from the outside, layering ( tapering ) away from the keel, but it will require more "bodywork" than doing it from the inside.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bow splitting open...HELP!

If you can't get access from the inside you can build it up from the outside, the bow will be shaped slightly different, maybe not even noticeably though, just depends on how you want to do it.

Don't bother trying to do anything from the inside by drilling a hole and gluing something inside, it won't really help much.

Sand it back about 6" all the way around, with a slight taper towards the center of the crack, but don't sand through (its thin), you need to leave enough material to retain the original shape.

You can use either epoxy or polyester resin, if you use polyester you need to use mat as the first layer and between each layer of woven fabric. Using epoxy you can skip the mat.

Cut the glass in strips to the width needed (4" or so), you can taper the layup by staggering the layers of glass from side to side a different amount.

Sand paint as desired to finish it off.

So that it doesn't wear through again you can build it up thicker, or get the Keel guard type product already mentioned.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Bow splitting open...HELP!

I would do just that but it would mean disassembling the entire boat to access the inside of the outer hull. I was hoping someone would come up with something clever they had seen done before from the outside without having to do the repair from inside the hull. Thank you though for your thoughts.

no it doesn't, it means you have to take a sawzall or grinder and cut an access hole.

don't want a hole? you got one already

but the problem is you have a thru-hull hole,
thats always best fixed from inside.

but try it from the outside, it might hold or pop loose,
you can always go back and do it again.