Got the first section of sole removed in my 1983 H31, to begin replacement. Underneath the old sole, I found the damage below. It will not be seen under the new sole. What could have caused this, and does it need to be repaired? Sole is alongside and aft of the nav station. First picture is for orientation, other pics are progressively closer.
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Is this cosmetic only, or does it need repair?
- Thread starter SFS
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And a final one from a slightly different angle that I hope captures the depth of that right-hand edge:
I'd repair it while it is accessible. Doesn't look like a big job. Somebody dropped something heavy?
That would be my guess, but it happened under the PO's tenure. The batteries were moved from their original location to a location aft of this point and close by, so maybe someone dropped a battery.
I agree that even if it is not structural, it should be repaired... I sure wouldnt want my boat in that condition even it it was covered over with floorboards and out of sight...
So sand it smooth (I don't have an angle grinder), and fill/fair it with thickened epoxy? It won't need paint, it's covered up.
Yeah, could be. That shiny new Yanmar is worth more than what we paid for the boat, and is the principal reason we bought this specific copy. This is the boat on which the Admiral will continue her sailing education, and likewise I will continue my maintenance education. If we break it, oh well. If it's ugly, oh well. It is sound, and safely equipped. It frees me from becoming wrapped up in how the soles will look when I am finished.
Go to harbor freight and buy a cheap angle grinder, Get a flap wheel sanding disc, grind out the damage and glass it. Use several layers of cloth (6-8) and build it up. There's another spot just forward of that bulkhead that needs work too
Used to make my living fixing stuff like that
DO NOT just hide it.
Cause you'll lay awake wondering
Used to make my living fixing stuff like that
DO NOT just hide it.
Cause you'll lay awake wondering
When factory boats are built in molds, especially the liners, workers tend to do a poor job of getting the glass matt fully pressed into areas where there is a hard 90 degree angle like that. This results in voids behind the gelcoat and makes it 'easy' to break, can't emphasize enough how common this is. I agree with the above assumptions that this most likely caused by dropping either a battery or the motor during a the re-power. Actually, I wouldn't even use the word 'drop', I bet if either heavy object were just 'set down' a little too fast could have caused that.
Do yourself a favor and buy a quality DeWalt angle grinder, its about $90. A good grinder has about 1000 useful applications besides just boat work. Mine is one of my most prized and indispensable tools, but then again I am a welder...
Also as suggested, grind out the damage and feather back maybe two inches on either side. Don't be shy with the epoxy and some fiberglass cloth tape, build it up nicely. DO NOT build it all the way level with the gelcoat, build it up level with the glass but below the gelcoat layer. Then do yourself another favor and go to the Spectrum Color website. You can purchase a 2 oz gelcoat paste kit that is color matched to your boat for $25. The thickened gelcoat is easy to apply and very forgiving to work with. Even if the area is going to be covered by the sole, this gives you a chance to advance that boat repair education you were talking about. You'll thank me later when you see how easy it is to do a spotless gelcoat repair.
Do yourself a favor and buy a quality DeWalt angle grinder, its about $90. A good grinder has about 1000 useful applications besides just boat work. Mine is one of my most prized and indispensable tools, but then again I am a welder...
Also as suggested, grind out the damage and feather back maybe two inches on either side. Don't be shy with the epoxy and some fiberglass cloth tape, build it up nicely. DO NOT build it all the way level with the gelcoat, build it up level with the glass but below the gelcoat layer. Then do yourself another favor and go to the Spectrum Color website. You can purchase a 2 oz gelcoat paste kit that is color matched to your boat for $25. The thickened gelcoat is easy to apply and very forgiving to work with. Even if the area is going to be covered by the sole, this gives you a chance to advance that boat repair education you were talking about. You'll thank me later when you see how easy it is to do a spotless gelcoat repair.
Thank you CloudDiver for the tip / name of Spectrum Color website......I have been looking for gelcoat that would be a closer
match to fill some fine cracks. Pat
match to fill some fine cracks. Pat
I try to get as many people turned on to that gelcoat paste as possible. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to fix crack with that stuff, sand, wet sand and buff gives you professional looking results. The key is not to overfill with epoxy or other repair fillers, make sure there is plenty (and I mean at least 1/16th inch) of depth to fill with the paste. For spider cracks I recommend a Dremel tool with an engraving bit. Once you fill the ground out crack with the paste it does not have to be prefect, as long as its filled a little proud the sanding will smooth it out. Its almost impossible to screw it up.