Cabin Material Question

Bluebonnet87

Bluebonnet87

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Mar 7, 2024
19
Hunter 26.5 Deale
What wood is typically used for the cabinets/benches, etc inside the cabin. I know various woods can be used on the interior but I want to match like for like since I'm replacing some of the wood.

Also - is the bilge tray or liner just plastic? I Have some cracking and pieces chipping off. Is the best way to repair this just with some epoxy?

I have a hunter 26.5 for reference
 
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Project_Mayhem

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Sep 24, 2018
3,401
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
On my O'day, the cabinets are made of plywood with a veneer. Likely marine grade ply. Can you take a pic of the damage?
 
isaksp00

isaksp00

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Apr 27, 2010
1,279
Hunter 23 Lake Wallenpaupack
The floor liner or bilge bottom is most likely fiberglass with gel coat surface. You could fill with epoxy or thickened epoxy, depending on how nice you want it to look and how deep or large the chips are. To have it nearly like new, you'd probably have to finish with a topping of gel coat, color matched as best as you can.
 
Bluebonnet87

Bluebonnet87

.
Mar 7, 2024
19
Hunter 26.5 Deale
Could you take a look at this photo. Bilge liner I'm mentioning is like this. Doesn't seem like fiberglass to me. It's like a plastic mold right?

20240330_151353.jpg


isaksp00 said:
The floor liner or bilge bottom is most likely fiberglass with gel coat surface. You could fill with epoxy or thickened epoxy, depending on how nice you want it to look and how deep or large the chips are. To have it nearly like new, you'd probably have to finish with a topping of gel coat, color matched as best as you can.
Click to expand
 
isaksp00

isaksp00

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Apr 27, 2010
1,279
Hunter 23 Lake Wallenpaupack
My H23 has a floor that looks like that (different shape of course) and it's gel coated fiberglass. Does the white color appear to be a rather thin layer on top of a sort of clear grey base, where you see larger chips? If so, it's almost certainly fiberglass with gel coat. The only boats from Hunter that I've heard use true plastic were some of the day sailers. Crazy Dave will know for sure.
 
Bluebonnet87

Bluebonnet87

.
Mar 7, 2024
19
Hunter 26.5 Deale
Ok thank you. I've hesitated pulling off any chips but I think I need to in order to see if fiberglass is is behind it. I have to remove the chipping off parts anyway to repair it

isaksp00 said:
My H23 has a floor that looks like that (different shape of course) and it's gel coated fiberglass. Does the white color appear to be a rather thin layer on top of a sort of clear grey base, where you see larger chips? If so, it's almost certainly fiberglass with gel coat. The only boats from Hunter that I've heard use true plastic were some of the day sailers. Crazy Dave will know for sure.
Click to expand
 
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dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,930
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
The hull liner is fiberglass, it is part of the structure of the boat and helps to stiffen the hull and to keep the sides of the hull from collapsing towards the center. If there is a headliner, it too is fiberglass and it serves to look nice in the interior and to strengthen the deck and stiffen the boat.
 
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Bluebonnet87

Bluebonnet87

.
Mar 7, 2024
19
Hunter 26.5 Deale
Ok thanks, this is good to know

dlochner said:
The hull liner is fiberglass, it is part of the structure of the boat and helps to stiffen the hull and to keep the sides of the hull from collapsing towards the center. If there is a headliner, it too is fiberglass and it serves to look nice in the interior and to strengthen the deck and stiffen the boat.
Click to expand
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,436
-na -NA Anywhere USA
It has been nearly 35-40 years ago watching the 26.5 being built at Hunter. The grid is part of the floor pan that is fiberglassed to the hull. The floor pan is fiberglass. The bilge area was then coated with white gel.
Since you are fixing the holes, cracks etc., remember that the bilge is a wet area. May I suggest using two part Water Tite epoxy in the bilge due to being a wet area as I found was the best epoxy to use but is expensive. As for painting, may I suggest using Krylon white spray paint formulated for plastic but you will need to Sand the surface first and wipe down with acetone. Wear protective gloves using acetone. Yes Krylon plastic paints do work. Get a color chart to match in the spray cans and mask off area
 
Bluebonnet87

Bluebonnet87

.
Mar 7, 2024
19
Hunter 26.5 Deale
Perfect, thanks Crazy Dan. I got a plan now

Crazy Dave Condon said:
It has been nearly 35-40 years ago watching the 26.5 being built at Hunter. The grid is part of the floor pan that is fiberglassed to the hull. The floor pan is fiberglass. The bilge area was then coated with white gel.
Since you are fixing the holes, cracks etc., remember that the bilge is a wet area. May I suggest using two part Water Tite epoxy in the bilge due to being a wet area as I found was the best epoxy to use but is expensive. As for painting, may I suggest using Krylon white spray paint formulated for plastic but you will need to Sand the surface first and wipe down with acetone. Wear protective gloves using acetone. Yes Krylon plastic paints do work. Get a color chart to match in the spray cans and mask off area
Click to expand
 
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Project_Mayhem

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Sep 24, 2018
3,401
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
If using acetone, be prepared to change your gloves often. It slowly melts/degrades most disposable gloves. They feel thinner after some use but that's about it
 
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