The new Hunter composite hull using ABS/closed cell foam/ fiber glass is not as impact resistant as avertised. I was comming up to a dock yesterday when a wave caught the back of the boat and turned it and drove it up on the dock. I hit the dock right on the bow. I did't hit it very hard but later that day when swimming we found the damage. The bow was crinkled,the ABS has delaminated in areas and the was one crack in the ABS alowing water in to the foam core. If anyone has any experience with repairing damage to this composite hull system I would be interested in your experience. Gary
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
T
Tom
Accept Responsibility
Hmmm, I was going to let this pass, but this post was just dripping with "It's their fault it wasn't built better", and absolutely no "Oops, I goofed and hit the dock". I always learned that I never approach a dock any faster than I'd like to hit the dock. Windy, wavy, rough conditions? Yes, they happen and I make the decision how and when to approach the dock. "I" make the decision. Have I hit a dock before? Yes, who was to blame for any damage? I was, not the boat because it wasn't "impact resistant". Gary, sorry to come down on you, sorry I don't have advice on how to repair the composite hull system, and I'm truly sorry that you damaged your boat. Tom
Hmmm, I was going to let this pass, but this post was just dripping with "It's their fault it wasn't built better", and absolutely no "Oops, I goofed and hit the dock". I always learned that I never approach a dock any faster than I'd like to hit the dock. Windy, wavy, rough conditions? Yes, they happen and I make the decision how and when to approach the dock. "I" make the decision. Have I hit a dock before? Yes, who was to blame for any damage? I was, not the boat because it wasn't "impact resistant". Gary, sorry to come down on you, sorry I don't have advice on how to repair the composite hull system, and I'm truly sorry that you damaged your boat. Tom
Proper repair methods should be available...
Gary: Hitting the dock is sort of "water under the bridge or bow". I would suggest that you contact Hunter Marine of the proper repair methods for this contruction. They built them, they know how to repair them.
Gary: Hitting the dock is sort of "water under the bridge or bow". I would suggest that you contact Hunter Marine of the proper repair methods for this contruction. They built them, they know how to repair them.
L
Lamar Sumerlin
Hunter contact
Hi Gary, Just in case you might not know, Lind Bayreuther at Hunter can give you advice and instructions on how to repair the damage (860-739-3033, ext. 2 or customerservice@huntercomposite.com) Good luck, Lamar
Hi Gary, Just in case you might not know, Lind Bayreuther at Hunter can give you advice and instructions on how to repair the damage (860-739-3033, ext. 2 or customerservice@huntercomposite.com) Good luck, Lamar
repair
You can find instructions and photos of how to make this repair at Sailing-obsession.com. I have used this method and the materials suggested and the repair came out great. You can't tell that I smashed the front when I hit the dock. Steve
You can find instructions and photos of how to make this repair at Sailing-obsession.com. I have used this method and the materials suggested and the repair came out great. You can't tell that I smashed the front when I hit the dock. Steve
G
gary
ACP repair Web site
Steve Thanks. The website was great. Very helpful. Best it give a sourse for the PLexus ahesive Hunter recomends. I have tried to buy some before for a different boat and found it could not easily be bought directly form the company. Looks like I should have the boat back in the water very soon. I had a lot less damage than that showed on the website. Did you find working with the PLEXUS more difficult than working with Epoxy? Do you know what weight glass clowth you used? Again thanks for all your help. Gary
Steve Thanks. The website was great. Very helpful. Best it give a sourse for the PLexus ahesive Hunter recomends. I have tried to buy some before for a different boat and found it could not easily be bought directly form the company. Looks like I should have the boat back in the water very soon. I had a lot less damage than that showed on the website. Did you find working with the PLEXUS more difficult than working with Epoxy? Do you know what weight glass clowth you used? Again thanks for all your help. Gary
Repair
Gary, I think working with plexus is about the same as working with epoxy. I believe that I used 6 oz. cloth for my repair. It just takes patience to get the shape correct and to eliminate any pin holes that you might have. I just used white plastic paint from Rustoleum to finish it with. I know that it is not as durable as polyurethane paint, but it has been on my boat for about six months and it still looks fine. The color is a very close match as well.
Gary, I think working with plexus is about the same as working with epoxy. I believe that I used 6 oz. cloth for my repair. It just takes patience to get the shape correct and to eliminate any pin holes that you might have. I just used white plastic paint from Rustoleum to finish it with. I know that it is not as durable as polyurethane paint, but it has been on my boat for about six months and it still looks fine. The color is a very close match as well.
G
gary
G
Gary
Bow repair
Well I spent this weekened working on the boat not sailing on it. Thats what happens when you get careless. I started by cutting off some of the damaged Luran-S When I discovered how much ABS foam was behind on the bow I eneded up cutting of about two inches of bow from the bottom up to about 4" below the bow eye. I glued balsa wood blocks to the ABS foam ( I tried polystyere but it reacted with the plexus). It was then very easy to shape the boe with a knive and orbital sander. So far it looks very good. Next weekend I pland to glass over everything. I debated taking this much off. I could have just filled in the cracked foam but there was a lot of creasing and bulging of the luran (not really that much cracking compared to what was shown on the website Steve suggested. I decided it would be best to remeove everything that was damaged even if the damage was minimal. Hope I was right. Steve How did you go about reshaping the bow? The plexus was very easy to work with so far. I would recomend everbody keep a tube or two on the boat for quick repairs. I could have used it last weekend to seal the crak it the hull instead of electrical tape.
Well I spent this weekened working on the boat not sailing on it. Thats what happens when you get careless. I started by cutting off some of the damaged Luran-S When I discovered how much ABS foam was behind on the bow I eneded up cutting of about two inches of bow from the bottom up to about 4" below the bow eye. I glued balsa wood blocks to the ABS foam ( I tried polystyere but it reacted with the plexus). It was then very easy to shape the boe with a knive and orbital sander. So far it looks very good. Next weekend I pland to glass over everything. I debated taking this much off. I could have just filled in the cracked foam but there was a lot of creasing and bulging of the luran (not really that much cracking compared to what was shown on the website Steve suggested. I decided it would be best to remeove everything that was damaged even if the damage was minimal. Hope I was right. Steve How did you go about reshaping the bow? The plexus was very easy to work with so far. I would recomend everbody keep a tube or two on the boat for quick repairs. I could have used it last weekend to seal the crak it the hull instead of electrical tape.
repair
Gary, The bow of my boat was not damaged as much as the one on the sailing-obsession website. The owner of the boat is a friend of mine and I was there when it happened. He hit the dock really hard and the damage was pretty bad. On my boat I just cut away the bulged section,(very small area) and the foam behind was OK. I glassed this area and used a small orbital disc sander to get the general shape and then kept adding thin layers of plexus and sanding by hand until I got the desired results. I was concerned about the foam being compressed behind the plexus hull material in the general area around the repair, so I drilled holes on both sides of the bow in the general area of the damage and using a syringe designed to be used for epoxy resin(from west marine) I injected plexus behind the hull material in this area. It made the very front of the bow much stronger in this area. I used a small drill, probably about 5/32 so I just needed to sand these small areas and when everything was sanded, paint. Steve
Gary, The bow of my boat was not damaged as much as the one on the sailing-obsession website. The owner of the boat is a friend of mine and I was there when it happened. He hit the dock really hard and the damage was pretty bad. On my boat I just cut away the bulged section,(very small area) and the foam behind was OK. I glassed this area and used a small orbital disc sander to get the general shape and then kept adding thin layers of plexus and sanding by hand until I got the desired results. I was concerned about the foam being compressed behind the plexus hull material in the general area around the repair, so I drilled holes on both sides of the bow in the general area of the damage and using a syringe designed to be used for epoxy resin(from west marine) I injected plexus behind the hull material in this area. It made the very front of the bow much stronger in this area. I used a small drill, probably about 5/32 so I just needed to sand these small areas and when everything was sanded, paint. Steve
G
Gary
Bow repair
I worked on repairing thhe bow again this weekend. I foumd it was very hard to form a large fiberglass with the Devcon Plastic welder. It has to short a working time. I did find a product Devcon Plastic Welder 2 that has twice the working time. It is a little harder to get. You have to find a distributor on Devcons Website and order it. I did that and am now waiting for the new glue. Hope to have the bow patched next weekend. Gary
I worked on repairing thhe bow again this weekend. I foumd it was very hard to form a large fiberglass with the Devcon Plastic welder. It has to short a working time. I did find a product Devcon Plastic Welder 2 that has twice the working time. It is a little harder to get. You have to find a distributor on Devcons Website and order it. I did that and am now waiting for the new glue. Hope to have the bow patched next weekend. Gary
- Status
- Not open for further replies.