No More Rails-Help me fix the Holes!

[Viesail]

Just pulled the hand rails around the cockpit on my H22. They were a shoty modification by the PO, and were busting loose. Maybe I'll put them back on one day, if I can figure out how to put backing plates in the stern, which they did not have (were only screwed in). So how should I approach the fix? Here is an image of the worst of the damage.

My Plan:

-Clean with Acetone
-Sand
-Fill holes with Marine-tex.
-Sand
-Clean with Acetone
-Apply Evercoat Polyester Gel-Paste
-Sand

Sound about right?

 

[kloudie1]

Yup.. vee groove (carefully grind out the stress cracks using a small grinder like a Dremel) the gel coat stress cracks so the repair has a better bond to the existing gel coat.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

V,

Judging by the picture, along with the cracking around the bolt holes, are you sure not part of the problem is also water intrusion.

I would inspect the wood coring. I did a fix like this but removed the top fiberglass, dug out the wet wood, Dried first with acetone, waited a number of sunny dry days to air it out, cleaned the inner liner glass, dried it and re-glassed the whole area solid. I used milled fiber mixed in with the fiberglas & resin. This will setup as bullit-proof strength when cured.

If there is any core rot that you leave, the stanchion will never be soundly reliable & will flex under load. This could be evident at the worst possible time pal. Sorry if my comment came in late..........

CR

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Judging from the photo, attahment of the screws I believe were to aluminum backing plates encapsulated or bedded insider the fiberglass. If replacing, you might want to consider replacing with the next size up or larger screw. Use alot of caulking if attaching. If not, remove all gel coat and make sure what you do, bevel at 45% angles from inside of gel to outside. If there is any cracking, I use to take a 1/8 inch drill bit and drilled each end of the crack to prevent it from speading making sure I went to the top of the glass. It will be difficult to match old white but there are color kits that you can get but an off color white would work if not is much seen.

crazy dave

 

[Viesail]

kloudie1, So I should use a Vee Groove bit down the spider cracks?

Captnron, there is no rot. The material around the inside of the bolt holes is solid. Couldn't scrap any off with a pick.

Crazy Dave Condon, I'm not sure I understand the technique you suggested with Beveling at 45%. Also, there were no backing plates encapsulated.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

V,
Catalina has no imbedded backup plates in the core pal.
The good news, is no indication of water seepage.
I recently had backup plates made for all my thru deck stanchions, turning blocks etc.

Some say to drill holes bigger, some say fill in and redrill etc.
There are several ways that work depending on your situation.

The choice is yours, so what ever you use, if done right, you need do it but once. If the holes show no hogging out, you may only need to get new hardware for the changeout.

Let me know how it goes pal.....

CR

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I am reluctant to discuss the 22 even though I sold two as I was not involved with that specific boat. Therefore, I tread lightly.

Working with gel coat, white is very difficult to match. I bevel the gel coat outward for two primary reasons if it makes sense. The first is better adhesion/attachment for gel coat as it is a larger area. Secondly, it appears that white shades better hidden or match up a little better as it thins out going out at the beveled 45 % angle. Try it.