I am thinking about fixing a South Coast 21. It has a crack in the fiberglass hull as seen in the photo. Does anyone have any opinions about if this is a good project. I have fiberglassed small holes in boats and have experience fixing up many other things. Email me at davidprochaska@gmail.com Thanks, David Prochaska
to fixer up or not
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not me
That crack speaks to a major collision, or else poor construction. The repair would need to extend far beyond the actual cracked area, to make sure you replaced anything that might have been affected. I'd worry about the overall structural integrity. You're looking at making a hole in the boat several feet long, then trying to rebuild with the proper coring, layering and scarfing into the existing glass. And is that another crack on the bottom (below and to the left in the photo? That jumps out as another potential problem.
That crack speaks to a major collision, or else poor construction. The repair would need to extend far beyond the actual cracked area, to make sure you replaced anything that might have been affected. I'd worry about the overall structural integrity. You're looking at making a hole in the boat several feet long, then trying to rebuild with the proper coring, layering and scarfing into the existing glass. And is that another crack on the bottom (below and to the left in the photo? That jumps out as another potential problem.
Crack is repairable
I have done many boat repairs for yards, so i can speak from experience. Repairing is not that big of a deal. What is the big deal is knowing what you doing. West Systems (gougeon Bros) have several pamphlets on the matter and they have an excellent video on fiberglass repair. I would suggest that you get the video 'express mail' and watch it before you even make an offer on the boat. There are also many excellent fiberglass repair books in the library. Patching it is one thing, repairing it properly is another thing. A bad repair could cost you your life or at the very least, a really bad weekend. Your next post might read..."what happens if i cant aford to raise my boat from the bottom"? Also before i made an offer , i want to know what a South Coast 21 is worth in good condition. The reason we live in a throwaway society is because the cost of repairs is not always worth the effort. Good luck in whatever you decide Tony B
I have done many boat repairs for yards, so i can speak from experience. Repairing is not that big of a deal. What is the big deal is knowing what you doing. West Systems (gougeon Bros) have several pamphlets on the matter and they have an excellent video on fiberglass repair. I would suggest that you get the video 'express mail' and watch it before you even make an offer on the boat. There are also many excellent fiberglass repair books in the library. Patching it is one thing, repairing it properly is another thing. A bad repair could cost you your life or at the very least, a really bad weekend. Your next post might read..."what happens if i cant aford to raise my boat from the bottom"? Also before i made an offer , i want to know what a South Coast 21 is worth in good condition. The reason we live in a throwaway society is because the cost of repairs is not always worth the effort. Good luck in whatever you decide Tony B
Doesn't look so bad.
As long as the keel and the rest of the hull is solid it might be a good thing. The main advantage to damage like that is that it should bring the price down dramatically. Southern Cross is a very well built boat designed for ocean crossing. They are beautiful vessels. If the price is right and the damage not too extencive beyond what the picture shows it would be a nice boat to have and fairly easy to repair stronger than it was.
As long as the keel and the rest of the hull is solid it might be a good thing. The main advantage to damage like that is that it should bring the price down dramatically. Southern Cross is a very well built boat designed for ocean crossing. They are beautiful vessels. If the price is right and the damage not too extencive beyond what the picture shows it would be a nice boat to have and fairly easy to repair stronger than it was.
Oops my mistake. Where are my glasses?
. At a glance I thought it said Souther Cross. Where's my glasses? I'm sorry I hit the post button too soon. I'm not familiar with those. Still the crack doesn't look so bad to me.
. At a glance I thought it said Souther Cross. Where's my glasses? I'm sorry I hit the post button too soon. I'm not familiar with those. Still the crack doesn't look so bad to me.
Yeah, two cracks are not good. But,
it's fiberglass so it's fixable. My guess is the boat tipped over in the yard, or was hit on the highway. Look real close inside the hull. That's where most of the damage and repair work is going to be. Don't forget to check the rig too, and the chain-plates for stress. (a fall in the boatyard with the mast up, often stops on another boat. Not good.)
it's fiberglass so it's fixable. My guess is the boat tipped over in the yard, or was hit on the highway. Look real close inside the hull. That's where most of the damage and repair work is going to be. Don't forget to check the rig too, and the chain-plates for stress. (a fall in the boatyard with the mast up, often stops on another boat. Not good.)
Sure
Looks like it's not your boat, yet. If you can't have it for the money you think is fair then get it. It's a 21 footer not a blue water cruiser so a fair good expoxy work would do the job to bring the boat save to use. My 2-cents.
Looks like it's not your boat, yet. If you can't have it for the money you think is fair then get it. It's a 21 footer not a blue water cruiser so a fair good expoxy work would do the job to bring the boat save to use. My 2-cents.
I'd fix it
Fiberglass is easily repairable, more of a hassle than a real backbreaker. I have seen boats with holes large enough to crawl through go on to make very long voyages after repair, Probe and scrape and look everywhere around the cracks, check tabbing inside and around the floors look for transmitted damage the picture furnished looks as though the damage is in areas that are easily reached inside and out, so that's a bonus there. If the price is low and the boat is otherwise ready to sail, I'd snag it. If the rest of the boat is in sorry shape, sails and such ready to fall apart, dry rot etc,I'd have to pass. as Sailortonyb said, check into the gougon bros pamphlets. ken.
Fiberglass is easily repairable, more of a hassle than a real backbreaker. I have seen boats with holes large enough to crawl through go on to make very long voyages after repair, Probe and scrape and look everywhere around the cracks, check tabbing inside and around the floors look for transmitted damage the picture furnished looks as though the damage is in areas that are easily reached inside and out, so that's a bonus there. If the price is low and the boat is otherwise ready to sail, I'd snag it. If the rest of the boat is in sorry shape, sails and such ready to fall apart, dry rot etc,I'd have to pass. as Sailortonyb said, check into the gougon bros pamphlets. ken.
Cracks
Cracks in my book are major surgery...I'll do minor surgery, but that's it. Don't know where you sail, but would you feel TOTALLY comfortable in the boat after you have repaired it? If the answer is no, find another boat...there are lots of boats out there without cracks.
Cracks in my book are major surgery...I'll do minor surgery, but that's it. Don't know where you sail, but would you feel TOTALLY comfortable in the boat after you have repaired it? If the answer is no, find another boat...there are lots of boats out there without cracks.
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