Crack in my O'Day II hull

[Steve Romanoff]

I inherited a 1969 O'Day II with an 8-inch crack in the hull, midship just under the water line where the boat rests on the trailer rollers. This appears to be a double-hull. Can anyone advise me as to how to repair the fiberglass crack without being able to access the inside of the hull? I know how to repair something that I can access from both sides, but this has me stumped. Many thanks. -Steve

 

[Joe11688]

I inherited a 1969 O'Day II with an 8-inch crack in the hull, midship just under the water line where the boat rests on the trailer rollers. This appears to be a double-hull. Can anyone advise me as to how to repair the fiberglass crack without being able to access the inside of the hull? I know how to repair something that I can access from both sides, but this has me stumped. Many thanks. -Steve

Steve,
Go down to your town library and draw out a book entitled "Sailboat Hull & Deck Repair" by Don Casey. Use a good Fiberglass Epoxy like West Systems. You'll need to get the boat into a position where you can work on it easy. I would get it off the trailer and prop it up on it's side to be able to work on it easier. Trying to match the gel coat color will be harder than doing the actual patch job. Good luck!
Joe

 

[Sunbird22358]

Never heard of an "O'DAY II", could you post a picture?
If you are talking about a DAY SAILER II, then she is not a 1969, since that model was not introduced until 1971.
Fixing a crack in the area that you describe is not easy, but I think you could get some idea of the process by checking out the DS II that was repaired by Tim Lackey (Lackey Sailing LLC) a few years ago, he has posted pictures on his website under "past projects". This boat had damage both in hte hull and the cockpit from the same incident, a tree fell on the boat while on the trailer.