My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

[jmmacky]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Most of those areas just look like where the gelcoat has been scratched off. I would probably just reinforce the inside with some 1708 and csm when you do the stringers/bulkheads and the outside of the hull would just be cosmetic. Not so sure about that bigger gouge though...is that over a chine area? It will probably need grinding out and re-glassing I imagine.

Those are my inexperienced thoughts though! I'm sure one of the big names will be able to chime in with more accurate information!

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

JM, no the scratches are not on the chine (which I understand is the joint of sides and bottom). These are all along the bottom for the most part. The one exception is the 1 area at the back of the boat bottom of hull at base of transom near bilge drain. Looking at them again, they do mostly look like they are only in the white surface so I guess that is the gel coat then right? So that would be good news. If that is the case then the one major area I am most concerned about is the transom with the cracks that go all the way through the to both sides of the holes.

 

[rickryder]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

I just caught up with this thread and I have to ask the question..... Is the boat on a roller trailer or bunk? Or did you make a cradle for it? Also have you taken measurements before pulling the cap so it will fit back on?

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Rick,

It is on a Sparton tilt trailer that is clearly too wide for it. The trailer has rollers on it but I will obviously need to do some work on the trailer too. We do have some measurements from before the cap came off, however as a newbie and getting some incomplete advice from a local fiberglass shop I did not get measurements every foot as I now hear might have proven handy. However, I do plan on going to the boat cap (which is in storage) and verifying some of the measurements that we have, and trying to fill in the others. Not sure what else I can do at this point. If you have any thoughts I am open to hearing them. Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

"RAKA 900 epoxy is some very good stuff! Epoxy never has wax in it. You do NOT use mat with epoxy only cloth. 8 oz cloth is what I'd use."

Ok so I was taking time to reread and make sure I am not forgetting anything. I am also going over the stuff I have ordered and received. I am not sure I ordered the correct items. I would just like to verify with someone: I ordered Raka 900/606 Epoxy for medium - and I got 15 gallons of it. I also ordered 50 yards of 10 oz x 38" Special Fiberglass. I am not sure but I think that is the csm???? Then I also ordered 50 yards of 1700 x 38" Special Biaxial Cloth.

In reviewing the thread, Wood said he would use cloth only, not mat. Now I am wondering if I messed up getting the wrong materials. Did I get the wrong stuff or not? ALSO, do I need MEKP????? I did not get any of that. I also ordered 1 lb Chopped Glass, 1 lb Phenolic Microspheric Glass Bubbles, and 2 of the 8 oz containers of Silica. Now that I am getting closer to the glassing stage, do I have the right products for the project or do I need to consider adjusting my order????? I went with the 38" specials cause they were $4.00/sq yd. I went with the 10 oz (CSM I think) because I thought it was a step up from 8 oz and the local yokels told me the boat was thin and flimsy. I wanted to provide extra strength to it. Did I screw up???

When I first researched this I was going to do polyester resin with 1708 and 1.5 oz csm. I thought I had it figured out. Then I had a lot of people saying go epoxy and I found Raka as a reasonable price so I decided on that but then I got confused on which cloths / biaxials, etc to use. Worrying now that I may have ordered wrong and fearing I might get stuck with it. :facepalm:

So how far off what I need from what I have? MEKP?, 10 0z Fiberglass?, 1700 Biaxial?????

 

[rickryder]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

I would get some 2x6's and run them on their flat side along the outer chines of the hull and make 2x legs down to a plate on the ground....kinda like a short wall to help carry the load... Take some more measurements of your cap where it attaches to the hull and verify you have those measurements when you brace the hull. Even some wratchet straps can aid in pulling the hull into spec and then brace it.

I'm not an epoxy guy....I like poly resin....the boat was built out of poly so there really isnt a need for epoxy to rebuild it IMO.

I have never heard of 10oz csm.... might be 10 oz e glass or woven....when you say 1700 biax I assume you mean 1708... that's 17oz diagonal woven with 3/4 oz csm stiched to the back....

To get more familiar with glass and glassing read this ...http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=286013

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Ok, I visited the RAKA site. Looks like you got 10 oz cloth and that's fine. The 1700 biax is cloth too with no mat and that's fine too. Epoxy needs no MEKP only Poly resin uses it. You did get the hardener with the Epoxy...Right??? A and B. You're gunna need more silica. Making Peanut Butter really eats it up. 2lbs minimum. The rest of your order is fine. I do not believe you have any CSM. That's good. It's a lot easier to repair hull damage by flipping it so if you have the capacity to do it I'd build a cradle like I did and flip her and fix all the imperfections in the hull, paint or gelcoat it then flip her back and finish the inside. JMHO.

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Ricky, thanks I will be sure to double check all the measurments and get those supports in place before I start glassing.

Wood, Thanks so much for confirming what I have and letting me know it is ok. I am thinking the bottom repairs are a matter of re-gel coating and then painting and seems this would be the best time to do that so I think I will look more into that. Do you see anything that indicates any problems in the photos that I need to address in any way other than Gel Coat? I think I am most concerned about how to deal with the transom spider cracks. I am thinking of grinding down the inside with the dremel like you said and then filling it with PB. I am hoping that once I do that and go thru the steps you listed to complete the transom (and glass it) and after I have redone the gel coat that it should be strong enough again and the issue will be resolved. If you think otherwise, let me know. I will not work on it Thur and I will check back before I do anything to see if you think I need to do otherwise. Thanks again so much. aj

 

[rickryder]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Had me all confused with the 1700..... better known as DB170 - 17oz Biaxial - NO MAT as per us composites

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

It appears that you have some serious gouges and scrathes to the hull. You cannot gelcoat over epoxy. If you want to gelcoat the outerhull then you will need to do the repairs to the outer hull with polyester resin and glass. If you want to paint it then epoxy is fine. If she were mine I'd be laying a layer of the 10 oz and then a layer of the 17 oz on the inside over the areas where the cracks and gouges are. Once the hull is flipped you will need to grind the areas and apply glass. Once you decide on gelcoat or paint we can discuss the details on how to effect the repairs.

 

[rickryder]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

It appears that you have some serious gouges and scrathes to the hull. You cannot gelcoat over epoxy. If you want to gelcoat the outerhull then you will need to do the repairs to the outer hull with polyester resin and glass. If you want to paint it then epoxy is fine. If she were mine I'd be laying a layer of the 10 oz and then a layer of the 17 oz on the inside over the areas where the cracks and gouges are. Once the hull is flipped you will need to grind the areas and apply glass. Once you decide on gelcoat or paint we can discuss the details on how to effect the repairs.

This is very true ^^^

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

I can definitely do the 10 oz and 17 oz on the inside. What are the advantages and disadvantages to gelcoat or pain on the outside? I really can do either depending on the benefits. It is not my intention to have the boat fully restored to look as it did when it was first built, however I do want it to be safe and sturdy for some years of enjoyment. Does painting it lead to more maintenance over the next few years vs gelcoat? What would you do if it was yours? Any idea what the cost difference is?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

I can definitely do the 10 oz and 17 oz on the inside. What are the advantages and disadvantages to gelcoat or pain on the outside? I really can do either depending on the benefits. It is not my intention to have the boat fully restored to look as it did when it was first built, however I do want it to be safe and sturdy for some years of enjoyment. Does painting it lead to more maintenance over the next few years vs gelcoat? What would you do if it was yours? Any idea what the cost difference is?

This is discussed ad infinitum on the forum. For what it's worth and a lot of people will tell you, not much, unless you have a large (60 gallon) compressor and the proper Spraying equipment, then I would not try to Gelcoat the hull. Not saying you can't but for the average DIY'er it's a larger undertaking and not easy to do. Gelcoat is prolly much more durable in the long run but you can get very good results with HVLP spray guns or Roll n' Tip or Roll n' Roll painting of the hull. True, Paint will require more maintenance in the end than Gelcoat, so...I guess it's Pay me now or Pay me Later. If you're asking me what would I do, I would use the epoxy since you have already purchased it,and Paint the hull. Check the link at the bottom of my signature for some Painting info.

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Ok, you have not lost me. I have been reading up on what it would take to do the entire hull in gelcoat vs painting it. Honestly I am wondering if I can just fill the gouges with hardner and do a repair to the gelcoat if needed right now? I would like to wait until we get a house and have a garage and the shelter to do this all right. I will definitely do the stringers and transom right, but honestly have you ever tried to do this stuff in an apartment parking lot? GOD I miss my house. Anyhow, by the time we get a house again maybe I will be able to get another cheap boat and have the space to really do this one right like you have Wood. I love what you have done with yours and I would love to do that in the future with this one. I realize it will be much heavier to turn at that point with the new wood and glass in it, but I will be able to build a nice structure around it that will assist in flipping it and supporting it while flipped, etc. Right now I am battling (in my mind) buying that wood for a month or 2 then getting rid of it because I have no where to keep it until my next project. Seems like such a waste.

So my thought is repair the hull (exterior), replace the transom and stringers and put the boat back together. Have some fun until I can get out of He.. double hockey sticks and join the real world again. Additionally, I really have learned a lot from you all and will continue to. So by the time I am ready to do it, not only will I have the place and supplies but the knowledge too.

Wood, if you think that my idea of fixing the hull is doable - what would you recommend? If I recall they do not recommend gelcoat over epoxy. So with that (if I am correct) I am totally thinking of using the epoxy inside the boat (which I also have learned is total overkill, but I already have it) and get whatever supplies I need to fix the gouges on the hull. Should I get some polyester resin for the hull and make a PB to repair the gouges after I grind them out? Would I be ok with the poly sold at home depot for this or should I stick to the stuff I have to order and have shipped?

If there is any reason my current thought process is not a good one, feel free to speak up. I am just trying to work with my current limitations. Thanks.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

The last sentence in my previous post is what I'd do. Since you're in an Apartment, I'd use the epoxy to mix some PB filler crawl under the hull as best I could, Acetone wash out the worst of the gouges and scratches and use a plasctic putty knife to fill em in. Come back the next day with a random orbit sander and sand em smooth down to 180 grit then use the Valspar paint with hardener and put a Roll n' Roll Paint job on her and call it good

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Ok, so I will get the supplies and get working on this part of the project. I will attact more photos of the progress as soon as I get the supplies and get it going.

Update: So my attempts to find Valspar paint retailers is not as easy as it would seem. Sunday in MS and apparently people are not at work or they just don't answer the phone. I might have to try this tomorrow. More updates to come.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

What city in mississippi are you located in?

 

[rickryder]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Here are all the Tractor Supply stores in Miss. You will find the paint there....

MISSISSIPPI

BATESVILLE, COLUMBIA, COLUMBUS, CORINTH, FOREST, GULFPORT, HATTIESBURG, HAZLEHURST, HORN LAKE, LUCEDALE, MCCOMB, MERIDIAN, NATCHEZ, RICHLAND, STARKVILLE, TUPELO, VICKSBURG

Rick

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

We are in Brandon and I think the closest one is 23 miles away but my other half works in Forest so we can check with them. What I saw and the closest 2 stores is they have switched to a brand named MAGIC. I will have to check as I am not sure it is the same. I also saw Lowes carries Valspar Paints so maybe they can order it if nothing else. TY

 

[rickryder]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

I know the Lowes by me stocks the tractor paint.