170 center foot rail construction and repair advise

[neptunedwb]

I added some pics of the cracks that my H170 has I have begun grinding the edges of the transom crack to prepair it for a fix. When it stops raining for a day or two here in Jax I will check the condition of the wood under the motor mount. I have already removed the SS rudder and motor mount brackets to ensure I have a water tight transom when I finish. If anyone can offer advise on these repairs it would be much appreciated. Thanks for the replies I have gotten already!! I have researched some great ideas and conflicting opinions with regards to fixing a core backed deck but my concern is one with out a core backing on the deck next to the center rib. SEE PICs.
Thanks again and Happy Sailing. db

I recently purchased a 98 170 with a foot long crack next to the center foot rail on the deck. When I look in the crack I dont see any foam core or other support material. i.e. wood, balsa. Has any one fixed a crack like this on thier deck? I have read all the posts on this site with regards to fixing foam core backed cracks but was hoping someone had a technique for fixing the deck that does not have this foam core. Thanks for any advise you can provide.

Happy sailing,
DB

 

[JerryA]

I would expect the same method to work. You might need to go back a second time if your Plexus settles through the crack some. I'm one of the lucky ones that never had any cracks, but everyones repair advise sounds pretty straight forward. You will want to fix the crack near the motor mount too before the plywood under there gets too wet.

JerryA

 

[neptunedwb]

Thanks for the info Jerry but I havnt been able to find the Devcon at my Walmart; dont know if they still carry it. Do you happen to know of a viable replacement? Please check out the pics of the cracks I refered to earlier. It looks as though some one tried using bondo on the original repair. Also does anyone know if the hull color should be what I posted underneath the rudder plate. some sort of grayish brown epoxy looking stuff. Is this original or do I need to potentially glass this area as well for extra strength?

Thanks for your help and Happy Sailing. db

 

[JerryA]

The stuff I saw at Walmart was in the automotive section and was packaged in one of those two tube, mix as it comes out type packages. I bought some once at Meijer to repair a plastic piece in the console of my 73 Corvette. The plastic tabs had broken off underneath, from age probably. I made new tabs of aluminum and covered these in Devcon. Once cured I drilled new holes through the Devcon/aluminum sandwich. I really expected they wouldn't work and would pop off after a short time. But, they worked great and never came loose. It saved me a couple hundred bucks during the restoration.

JerryA

 

[txjim]

I've never seen it at walmart but have seen it in real H/W stores and in Harbor Freight. Home Depot had something called the Loctite Plastic Bonder, appears to be the same thing.

I'm working on a motor mount repair on my '99 170, will take & post a few pics that may help out...