Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

[DownUnder2013]

Hi this is the damage i need some help with any suggestions would be fantastic
The boat is a 1969 Bertram Caribbean Cobra made at Caribbean Boats in Rowville Melbourne Australia powered by a 80 HP Mercury Blue band Power trim and Tilt

:blue:

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

Hi and welcome to the dry dock, DownUnder...
Very hard to tell from the pics what the extent of the damage is, but from the stress cracks all around , I would suspect that there may possibly be some structural damage...
That repair, if structural, is going to require access to the interior, which means the deck may have to be cut or the cap removed.
It can get quite involved...
It MAY be possible to do a "cosmetic" repair completely from the underside but it will be difficult due to gravity working against you...
Make a note that I said a cosmetic repair...if there is structural damage, a cosmetic repair will be of little value...
If you have insurance on the boat, you can make a claim and have it done professionally at a Marina...
Otherwise this can get quite expensive and becomes a DIY project.
The only way to be sure if there is any structural damage is to get a very good look at what has happened under the deck...\
If you decide to tackle the repair yourself, we'll be here to give any advice and guidance you may need...
Best of Luck,
GT!M

 

[DownUnder2013]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

Hi this is the damage i need some help with any suggestions would be fantastic
The boat is a 1969 Bertram Caribbean Cobra made at Caribbean Boats in Rowville Melbourne Australia powered by a 80 HP Mercury Blue band Power trim and Tilt View attachment 216375View attachment 216375View attachment 216376View attachment 216377

:blue:

Thanks Captain not really what i was wanting hear at the moment I am going through my insurance but they are giving me a hard time and have so far knocked it back but I am sticking to my guns and have asked to have it reviewed again, this is the first boat i have owned and now wishing i didnt buy one.

I like my boating and this boat so if i am not approved again i may have to try a cosmetic repair and install a bilge pump with auto switch

Thanks again for you help and i will defiantly be back on again for help :blue:

Regards
Steve
From Australia

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

Some explanation of how the damage occurred would be helpful

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

I agree. I'm assuming you ran aground in which case there may well be structural damage. Simply getting an auto bilge to perpetually bail out a leaky boat is foolish, unwise and dangerous. What do you do if the bilge fails? Boats are by there very nature, time consuming and relatively expensive. They always have been and always will be (B.O.A.T = Break Out Another Thousand). While you can certainly do most repair jobs yourself, they must be done correctly or left to a professional. Gotta keep her ship shape, or send her to the scrap heap. There is nothing in between when it comes to boats.

 

[DownUnder2013]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

Some explanation of how the damage occurred would be helpful

I was in a fishing comp held in Lealow In Gippsland Victoria Australia I heard a thump a few times on the hull during moving from spot to spot on the Tambo river this river is fairly clear of snags and floating objects but we also beached a few times during the comp trying differant areas river went from 3 mtrs to 1 mtr (9ft to 3 ft ) also while on trailer to the next launching spot a loud thump was heard while driving not sure as this was the cause as when we got to the ramp i couldnt see any damage.. Thats about it

Steve

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

Was the boat secured at both ends on the trailer using the box strap & safety chain along with the rear tie-down straps? If not, then the boat may have come up off of the trailer, then landed back down on it. Either way, it sounds like you hit multiple objects multiple times, which is not good. The only way to be sure of the extent on the damage is to cut out the decks and inspect the keel and hull. If you are not willing, or able to do this you should send the hull the the trash heap. It is far too dangerous to use in its present state.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

Ok when probing the damaged area is it hard or soft? Is it wet or dry?

 

[DownUnder2013]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

When i pulled her out of the water there was quite a lot of water coming from the bung when removed and inspection of the hull from under neath there was also quite a bit of water coming from the keel area where the pictures i have posted show the damage,,, The wood or the keel was black so as a newbie to boating i really couldnt say but by the touch was wet not soft

Steve

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

You need to probe the area with a screw driver and determine if it's soft and mushy or solid. If it's solid you MIGHT, and I emphasize MIGHT be able to do the repairs from the outside. Measure the damaged areas and post up the measurements.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

Yeah, now that its out of the water, check it and see if its still wet after sitting a couple days. You might be able to do an exterior repair. It looks to be on the reverse chine area. Your not going to be able to do anything from the exterior unless you can get it dry to do a repair. This may mean you need to open it up from the interior. It will also be a much stronger repair if done on the inside and out. Looks like you hit a rock to me. Cool looking old boat, probably worth saving.

 

[DownUnder2013]

Re: Help with fibre glass repairs on Keel

Thanks Vice Admiral
Before buying the boat I had it checked over and a survey done on both the hull and the engine with these being very well reported the hull report didn't find any faults and the engine and trailer the same for the age of the vessel and motor so I hope the report also from my repairer will also see the insurance company change their first decision I pay my marine for the full 12 mths without choosing any layover time like most do as i like to know i can hop on the water at anytime of the year so hopefully the insurance will still do the repairs.

So whats insurance for if they wont repair it