Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

[glennj3]

I am considering repairing the wood that surrounds the engine, it is wood and was at an earlier time fiberglassed or resin primed. That has worn off.
Wondering should I tear out the old wood and attempt to replace it with marine or treated wood and resin prime it, or just resin prime the rotten area.
The boat is old but I want to keep it looking and operating as well as possible.
Thanks,

Glenn

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

Glenn, I really think we're gunna need some pics to be able to give you the kind of advice you need. But for sure it's never a good idea to put resin and glass over wet and rotting wood. You should always try and remove and replace it for safety reasons especially if the motor mounts to it.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

Is this the 1988 Sea Ray per your signature ?

If the wood stringers in the engine compartment are rotted, there is probably more to it. Like WOG said, pictures would be a great help to see what you are dealing with.

As far as repair, you will want to fiberglass everything in for preservation and strength.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

op2:

LK

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

Nice picture of the boat!
My boat is 1985, I don't know how to change the signature?
The engine mounts are fine, no wood there, this is wood that comes up around the engine thin moves toward the outside of the boat that holds the battery on top of the wood, this is just on the port side and "only at the position the two pieces of wood join". So it is a small area and it is where I would be putting my feet when I get down into the bilge area work on the engine etc.
Not sure I can up load pictures either, those things just don't work well for me....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

Nice picture of the boat!
My boat is 1085, I don't know how to change the signature?
The engine mounts are fine, no wood there, this is wood that comes up around the engine thin moves toward the outside of the boat that holds the battery on top of the wood, this is just on the port side and "only at the position the two pieces of wood join". So it is a small area and it is where I would be putting my feet when I get down into the bilge area work on the engine etc.
Not sure I can up load pictures either, those things just don't work well for me....

Ayuh,.... All ya can do is start diggin' out the Rot, 'n see where it leads ya,...

then build it back with new wood, 'n glass....

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

Start a PhotoBucket account, Then you can just link to that.

LK

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

OK, how do I start a photo bucket account.
I have never used glass before, looks like I would just clean it up, paint resin over wood, lay fiberglass sheet/sheets over it then paint the resin over it, no? The wood is strong, mostly broken up at the top corner where ones feet would be if stepping down into area to work.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

Go to photobucket.com and create an account. Then you can upload pictures from your computer or mobile device. Then click the picture. You will see a list of different types of links. You want to copy and paste the last of these links into a thread to show a picture. Check out the stickies at the top of this forum for lots of rebuilding and fiberglassing info!

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

- You are talking about on either side of the engine where the batteries & water tank are? I had that same model boat (loved it) You will need to start digging and make sure the stringers & transom did not start to rot also.

LK

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

1) Photo and image hosting, free photo galleries, photo editing click the lick for registering a new account. You can also just upload pictures to the thread, but those are not as easy for folks to view, etc.

2) You will need to remove the wood that is rotted and do things that will prevent further rot. So, 'cleaning things up' may not resolve the issues. Depending on the exact situation, you may be able to leave good wood there and apply some rot treatment . . . OR . . . it may be best to remove more than the just the rotted wood. That's where the pictures will help.

3) Fiberglassing is not quite a painting process. Once you activate the resin, you are in a race against time. So, usually you are using methods of fast application . . . rollers, squeegees, etc.

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

I just don't have time to work on the pictures today but I did make a photo bucket account.
Alwhite, that picture is so good, what a clean area. My bad wood is at you # 1 side just about as long as the battery is and just where to two woods join coming up and the flat one. I have use resins so I assume what ever I use to put on the fiberglass I don't plan on using it twice!
I will get into it tomorrow and F/U hopefully!
Thanks,
Glenn

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

Is the beautiful well of this boat all fiberglass or is this epoxy primer?

I also see the fuel line is in a good place, mine runs near the fly wheel toward the back side, I noticed after the engine was replaced and I drove a while, the fuel line had rubbed badly, not all the way through but into it, now have it pulled away with a nylon tie! It sure pays to check everything out when someone does work on your boat!!

Glenn

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

I believe it was fiberglass over wood with a bilge coat on it.

LK

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

# 1, what are stickys, I don't see anything that says "Stickys" is this simply the search options at the top of the page?



Well this is what happened after clicking on the link.....

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

Wow, it happened! Cool, now please note on this phot that the fuel tank does not have wood over it anymore, thinking I should cut a piece and place over it again.
The wood rot is on the right of the picture. I will post another after I removed the battery and started digging!

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

First photo came up OK, next one will not come through. I click on the link with my left mouse button and it states "copied" so then I move back here and click "Paste" ?

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a595/glennj3cub/Drivingmy53ChevyTruck012_zpsc6eb5cdf.jpg

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

Well I am learning, bare with me. The image above is of the fuel tank, the board above it has been missing a long time now, since someone cut a hole in it to attempt to move the inlet over some to make room for an alternator that would not fit. As you can see I now have one that I purchased and put on it. Wondering, guess I should cover it with wood so that I don't step on the tank every time I step down there?

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a595/glennj3cub/Drivingmy53ChevyTruck008_zps302f7971.jpg

after removing a lot of wood rot and braking some pretty hard fiberglass!

 

[glennj3]

Re: Inside area of engine compartment is rotting...

I am down to pretty hard wood, I do not want to remove the engine at this time so I need to repair what I can as is. Thinking I will place some treated plywood over it, not sure how to secure it down, then seal it over with fiberglass. Seems to be foam underneath the wood. Comments?