Ricochet
7th June 2010, 02:43 PM
Hey guys, I need to do some repairs on my new boat, a 23 foot fibreglass caribbean. There are 2 different repairs-
Down the centre of the bull, from midships aft, is a cavity for the fuel tank (long rectangular fibreglass unit) and behind that, the engine compartment. One either side of this cavity, are a flotation compartment that runs full length on port and stbd sides of the hull. There are 2 rubbing strips in the cavity that locate the fuel tank on either side, and also 2 identical strips of timber above this, that the false floor panel rests on top of. The upper 2 floor rests have pulled away from the hull and I want to replace these. I am assuming this boat is layed up in polyester resin and chopped strand mat? Do I use polyester or epoxy resin to adhere/seal the new strips of timber in?
Not the best shot, but this is the cavity, you may see the strips at the top which locate the false floor, and directly below are the fuel tank rubbing strips.
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/1977Fseries351C/photo10.jpg
2nd repair- I have cut inspection holes in the floor forward of the fuel tank cavity. This floor is ply and glassed in. There is a frame directly behind this section of floor, with a bilge space of a few inches directly below. Somewhere along the line, someone has plugged the limber holes in this frame with wine corks. When I pulled all the floors out, i found a tremendous amount of rubbish, muck, assorted fastners etc. I was worried about what was under the glassed in floor, and wanted to have access in future/drying out etc. I cut a series of holes with a holesaw, inspecting as I went. The floor is solid and no nasties beneath, besides a whole lot more rubbish and muck, and leftovers from an internal fit out in the past. I cleaned it all out, now I want to seal the end grain of the ply floor where I have cut with the holesaw. I'll then be making a new drop in false floor panel that will sit on top of this, that can be pulled out to clean bilge etc. I am assuming again that the glassed in ply floor, is polyester resin, and is chopped strand mat. Do I use polyester resin to seal the end grain and glass? Or do I use epoxy?
This is a picture of the floor before I cut out the inspection holes, will post another pic soon of how it looks now.
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/1977Fseries351C/photo11.jpg
Cheers,
Chris
Down the centre of the bull, from midships aft, is a cavity for the fuel tank (long rectangular fibreglass unit) and behind that, the engine compartment. One either side of this cavity, are a flotation compartment that runs full length on port and stbd sides of the hull. There are 2 rubbing strips in the cavity that locate the fuel tank on either side, and also 2 identical strips of timber above this, that the false floor panel rests on top of. The upper 2 floor rests have pulled away from the hull and I want to replace these. I am assuming this boat is layed up in polyester resin and chopped strand mat? Do I use polyester or epoxy resin to adhere/seal the new strips of timber in?
Not the best shot, but this is the cavity, you may see the strips at the top which locate the false floor, and directly below are the fuel tank rubbing strips.
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/1977Fseries351C/photo10.jpg
2nd repair- I have cut inspection holes in the floor forward of the fuel tank cavity. This floor is ply and glassed in. There is a frame directly behind this section of floor, with a bilge space of a few inches directly below. Somewhere along the line, someone has plugged the limber holes in this frame with wine corks. When I pulled all the floors out, i found a tremendous amount of rubbish, muck, assorted fastners etc. I was worried about what was under the glassed in floor, and wanted to have access in future/drying out etc. I cut a series of holes with a holesaw, inspecting as I went. The floor is solid and no nasties beneath, besides a whole lot more rubbish and muck, and leftovers from an internal fit out in the past. I cleaned it all out, now I want to seal the end grain of the ply floor where I have cut with the holesaw. I'll then be making a new drop in false floor panel that will sit on top of this, that can be pulled out to clean bilge etc. I am assuming again that the glassed in ply floor, is polyester resin, and is chopped strand mat. Do I use polyester resin to seal the end grain and glass? Or do I use epoxy?
This is a picture of the floor before I cut out the inspection holes, will post another pic soon of how it looks now.
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/1977Fseries351C/photo11.jpg
Cheers,
Chris