This is what 1- 6" soft spot looked like on my 18 from underneath.
http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...1&d=1614255920

Interesting, my largest soft spot was about 18" wide and 30" fore to aft. It was located just to the left of that delta shaped potter putty mark on the above picture. From underneath you can hardly tell it was there. Two years ago I drilled about 40 holes in the area and injected it with gorilla glue just to get me by, knowing that the rebuild was in my future. I figured when I tore this up there would be gorilla glue every where under the sole, but nothing came thru the bottom skin.

Whatever day they made this boat back in 75, they really did a good job of sealing everything up. There is still the original dust from where they flattened some of the pour foam on the outsides and tops of the stringers.
All the foam is as dry as can be. That was a relief.

Got the hull cleaned up a little. Tank platform was ply with glass only on the top so it was rotten. Also got the forward in floor box removed in one piece, plan on reusing it. And got the remainder of the rear battery shelves removed. Next step is to build the tank platform and get the floor templated.

Attachment 23091

consider removing and reinstalling the center keel stringer if you have not done so already.

strick

Why is that?

The 10" that I cut off in the back to allow for the transom rebuild looked dry and solid. And all the glass on both sides looks intact. What should I be looking for?


Thanks.

Yours may be dry. The wood core when wet can expand and contract due to freezing and thawing....weakening the glass..take your boat out in rough water then split the keel. This is one of the spots where we have seen these boats fail. Ask me how I know. Better to take it out and replace with composit for peace of mind.

Strick

Thanks for the explanation.

Keeping in mind I live in boat materials waste land, anything would need shipped in unless it is a construction material, what composite would be used for this?
The existing core appears to be a 1 1/2" by 2+" solid wood piece almost looks like cypress. With about 1/4" of glass laid up and tabbed in.

Edit to add... what would you think about just reinforcing the keel stringer layup that is there now. I could add 2 layers of 1700 on top of 2 layers of 1708 12" tape, and could offset the tape by 3". That would get me new 1708 tabbing out 8" or so on each side and a couple layers of 1700 wrapped on to the keel 3-4" each side.

I would replace with coosa or core cell or similar. You have went this far.

strick

Man, I hear what your are saying but that's going to be a tough pill to swallow. Need to sleep on that for sure. I'll get out there tomorrow, lay down on the keel and talk to it a bit. HaHa.

You could also do a half round piece of PVC. There are lost of examples around, and that's what I did too.