Repairing Split in Hull

[atengnr]

Okay, in 2007 I attempted a repair on this split from the outside (6-8 inches long). I used alternating layers of matt and the light woven cloth. Now, since I feel like this is a shoddy repair, Ive begun removing a section of the floor so that I can repair from the inside.

So my questions...Should I leave the patch I put on the outside and bond the inside patch to it?

Can I use the heavy woven to patch on the inside (the hull is made of a single layer of woven it appears)? Start with a layer of matt, then add the roving?

Please let me know your thoughts on how to proceed.

Thanks.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

Post some pics if you can, it'll be easier.

I'd doubt your hull is just one layer of woven roving, although it might be one layer of roving and a certain amount of mat.

If the outside patch is in good shape and looks ok, I'd leave it and just grind out from the inside of the boat. Clean all loose material out of the area of the crack, and grind back a few inches in an ever shallower pattern.

Then I'd start a patch with putty or filled epoxy if it's too small/narrow to get cloth into, followed by a small piece of cloth, covered over with a larger piece, and a larger one, up until you reach the thickness you want (on the boat inner hull it doesn't matter too much if you go extra-thick) and your last piece should be wide enough to cover your ground-away area.

Are you using poly or epoxy? That'll affect whether you use mat or not.

Erik

 

[atengnr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

Ill post pics when I get a vieew of the inside of the repair. I used epoxy on the outside and will do the same on the inside.

Also, I noticed that because I had no backing on the inside, the patch from the outside is concaved into the crack, thus it protrudes into the inside of the hull....Should I just grind that down?

 

[jonesg]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

If you go to the trouble of getting inside access I would grind everything, inside and out, then do a complete permanent repair.

 

[atengnr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

If you go to the trouble of getting inside access I would grind everything, inside and out, then do a complete permanent repair.

Im not sure what you mean..I believe the patch I put on from the outside is pretty good - 4 layers of woven and mat, with epoxy. I tried to bevel the edges, etc etc. so Im not sure what I would do differently if I remove this patch and redo?? Please let me know if you disagree.

My thought was to grind the inside to bevel the edges, and again use matt and the light cloth. Then grind down the patch on the outside until flush.

DO I need to grind down the patch on the inside to get a more uniform glass thickness (to match it to rest of the hull)??

Thanks.

 

[atengnr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

Ok, Im a bit confused here...Ive been trying to chisel out what seems to be the filler we used to fill the gap between the floor and the sides of the hull, but I cant define for sure that Ive gottn down to the hull on the side of the crack away from the centerline of the boat....Please see the pic, what do you think??

Thanks.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/atengnr/100_1789.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/atengnr/100_1791.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/atengnr/100_1791.jpg

 

[atengnr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

One last question. When I install the new piece of flooring, how do I prepare the edge that contacts with the side of the hull to assure that there is no "hard spot" stress riser at this joint?? Or is this not a concern?

Thanks.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

If you're talking about the bottom of that first pic, there's an elongated section where you see fibers... that's the hull material.

A hard spot where deck meets hull isn't really a problem... the deck doesn't typically carry enough force or resist movement of the hull there, and the hull itself isn't super stiff there either. I wouldn't worry, just cut the new deck close to the right size, fill the gap with some putty, and tab the deck to the hull with glass.

With regard to the outside patch... check how it looks when you can see it from the inside, you may wish to re-do it, and it won't be that much more work than cleaning up the inside. If it was me, I'd probably clean the hole inside and out, then tape/clamp a piece of plexi outside the hull as a form, then build up the patch from the inside. Once it's cured you remove the plexi and very little sanding and covering is required to make it look great. It would also be stronger than two patches done at different times.

Erik

 

[jonesg]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

Im not sure what you mean..I believe the patch I put on from the outside is pretty good - .

you said " I feel this was a shoddy repair"

I agree,

even though you did a decent job it was unsupported from the inside.

 

[atengnr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

you said " I feel this was a shoddy repair"

I agree,

even though you did a decent job it was unsupported from the inside.

OK, I follow. In the pics, you can see the repair and the damage to the hull. Its sort of in the center of the pic and is sort of a slot shape - 2 inch wide x 8-10 inch long (where the lighter patch fiberglass is visible).

Thanks for the help.

 

[atengnr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

Another question. If I wanted to reinforce the hull, could I sand the paint off the outside of the hull and glass a layer of cloth to the entire outside surface? Would this be of any value strength-wise??

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

It may add a very small amount of strength, but would be a huge undertaking, if it came to point of needing that kind of repair you'd be better off scrapping the boat. What makes you think it needs more strength?

Fix the inside now and if at some time you want to mess with the outside you can do it then.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

Another question. If I wanted to reinforce the hull, could I sand the paint off the outside of the hull and glass a layer of cloth to the entire outside surface? Would this be of any value strength-wise??

Wow , it wouldn't make sense at any level.
Weight to strength, huge effort involved, high expense etc.
Its a loser in every regard, you don't need it anyway.

 

[atengnr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

It may add a very small amount of strength, but would be a huge undertaking, if it came to point of needing that kind of repair you'd be better off scrapping the boat. What makes you think it needs more strength?

Fix the inside now and if at some time you want to mess with the outside you can do it then.

It was just a thought. The one remaining concern I have is due to the method I used to tear out the floor back in 97. We used a chisel around the perimeter of the floor, and this is where this split came from. Is it possible the hull could have been damaged elsewhere along this perimeter, but it isnt visible from the outside (crack, cracked paint, etc)?

Also, I was thinking of it because, this boat is 41 yrs old...Is the glass still as durable as when new?

 

[atengnr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

OK, final question on this....Can I use one layer of mat, then one layer of roving for this patch? This hull is constructed of roving and perhaps mat on either side....

By roving, I mean the heavy weaved material that is used to tab stringers to the hull...

Thanks.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Repairing Split in Hull

Yes