Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

[jigngrub]

Has anyone ever tried to explain to an obviously unknowing.naive fiberglass boat owner that their old and weathered fiberglass boat is rotten with waterlogged foam only to have them look at you like you're insulting them and trying to talk them out of their boat for nothing?

I've tried to explain this to several people and they have all taken offense to it, even after some of them have told me that their glass boat is a "heavy" old boat.

I tell them that I'm just trying to help them and I have no interest in owning an old fiberglass boat and they still act like I've kicked their dog or something.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Are these boats you want to buy, or boats your friends own and you want them to either get rid of, or fix them?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Been there, done that. Anyone selling a piece of junk like that, is beyond hope.


Now I just try to educate people that are looking to buy boats.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Every day in the Dry Dock!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

I stopped even trying to help people out a long time ago for those very reasons unless I am asked. These day about the only people I try to help out is here or at the marina.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Ah grasshopper it is often better to compliment than critique. The people already know the boat has problems they don't need you reminding them they paid a lot of money at one time for what is now a piece of junk. Just look at them and say, "Nice boat" and leave it to the repair shop to give them the bad news. You'll make friends that way and as they get to know you and your skills then maybe they'll be more receptive to you willingness to help.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Ah grasshopper it is often better to compliment than critique. The people already know the boat has problems they don't need you reminding them they paid a lot of money at one time for what is now a piece of junk.

That's the thing Cricket, they don't know... they don't even have an idea! They don't have a clue as to how their boat is put together under the deck, they don't know they have wooden stringers that are rotten and floatation foam that is waterlogged. I think that 90% of them think that because they have a fiberglass boat, everything is made out of fiberglass and there's no way it can rot.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

That is almost always the case with unsolicited criticism. Kind of like telling a parent they have an ugly child and they should get them braces.

That is funny and probably very true

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

It took me a long time to learn it, but I finally learned that it's best to keep my mouth shut unless they ask. Then, more often than not, I will say something like: "Well, my guess is that so-and-so might be your problem. HOWEVER, I'm no expert. You really need to talk to a professional mechanic/plumber/electrician" or whatever. Saves a lot of friction and conflict. I'm not responsible for educating everyone in the world. Regardless of how ignorant they might or might not be.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Ignorance is bliss, Enlightenment is frightening.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Well, if the foam in a fiberglass boat is wet, how about the wood???

With friends that have boats . . . I usually don't say much unless they ask.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Has anyone ever tried to explain to an obviously unknowing.naive fiberglass boat owner that their old and weathered fiberglass boat is rotten with waterlogged foam only to have them look at you like you're insulting them and trying to talk them out of their boat for nothing?

I've tried to explain this to several people and they have all taken offense to it, even after some of them have told me that their glass boat is a "heavy" old boat.

I tell them that I'm just trying to help them and I have no interest in owning an old fiberglass boat and they still act like I've kicked their dog or something.

Ayuh,.... I go through that 'bout Everyday,.....

Usually, Right here at iboats....

In My case, it's usually someone who's Just bought an ole OMC Stringer, or 470 Merc, in a Rotten hull...

 

[oops!]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

as an owner of a hull repair shop ..... i run into this daily.

what i do. is dumb it down to the point that they can understand.

the speech goes like this......

.....i tell them that the boat must be filled with foam due to coast guard rules of 1973.

the rules state that every small watercraft must include flotation foam allowing the boat to stay afloat if swamped or sank.
this floatation foam will allow the surviors something to hang on to till rescue comes.

the problem is that the foam is many little air bubbles....when water hits the surface of the air bubbles....it expands and contracts, thus breaking the surface of the individual bubble.....(especially during winter season)
when the bubbles are penetrated....it makes the foam waterlogged....
this traps water next to wood stringers (the frame of the boat) and rots the wood.

because of this fact boats rot from the inside out.

this means that a soft spot in the deck, is just a symptom of far worse things,,,,,like the boat barely being able to keep afloat if swamped or sank....and is unsafe to boat on.

(this usually prompts a response like....i just had it out.....its fine....i had my family on it last weekend ! i would not take any boat out with my family unless i knew that it was safe !)

then i tell tham that the easiest way to confirm what i am telling them is to take a moisture meter to the hull.....not one that measures wood....but one that measures density. (like a home inspector uses)
or just simply take the boat to the scales when its empty of gas and all equipment, ccompair it to the dry weight of the boat from the manufacturer.
then they know that im telling the truth.

it is not unusual to find a 300 lb difference.....that is 30 gals of water in the foam or rotten wood !

once they see the proof of this.....
they either say fix it or ill sell it.

the ones that say ill sell it.....i ask them to ask them selves if they would like to have bought a boat in this condition.....yes.... it looks good....and drives right.....but are they really going to pawn this unsafe boat off to another family with kids just like theirs?

i usually get a call with in a week to either fix the boat or to buy it for a fraction of the asking price

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Recently, I took the kids to school, there was a 20' Stingray Bowrider parked in a driveway through the winter with no cover...it was tilted properly, but no cover...I threw an unused, old wal-mart cover I had in the garage in the back of my truck in hopes of stopping by and dropping it off...one day there was a truck in the driveway, so I stopped by and offered the cover...the gentleman was very gracious and thankful for the cover. He mentioned the boat was his daughters and she was having custom covers made (a little late if you ask me?!). Anyway, a few days later I drove by and saw my cover over the boat. (insert warm fuzzy feeling) Can't understand why people don't take care of their things better...especially expensive items such as boats?

 

[bgc]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

I don’t get it either…. such a waste.
But on the brighter side of this it keeps me busy. We are getting ready for the next bunch of broken blocks and mangled props at the shop…..

 

[Larry E]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

WOW this is all about as uplifting to us stringer owners as a sows bra. Is it possible that there are fiberglass boats out there including mine that has been kept in great shape?

Larry E

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Why would anyone start a thread like this? Simply bored and looking for an argument I guess. Better question, why would the mods let it fly?? What bologna!!

 

[Larry E]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

Why would anyone start a thread like this? Simply bored and looking for an argument I guess. Better question, why would the mods let it fly?? What bologna!!

Hello to Scio from Creswell...

 

[bgc]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

View attachment 139228WOW this is all about as uplifting to us stringer owners as a sows bra. Is it possible that there are fiberglass boats out there including mine that has been kept in great shape?

Larry E

Unfortunately you are not the norm.... Most folks store them outside either sealed up in plastic wrap or with mooring covers that have no water proofing.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Rotten Fiberglass Boats and Their Owners

I wonder where the line gets crossed on people seeing a boat and assuming it's being neglected, verse being cared for. Is outside storage instantly being neglected? Is no cover or tarp, or shrink wrap mean neglect?