Howd ya do it
 

I've been getting a lot done on the boat lately filling in the notched transom, reinforcng the transom in preparation for the bracket etc.. etc.. One thing I keep pondering everytime I walk by them is how I'm going to fill in the front vents. I've already done the ones in back and they were easy but the fronts have no access except from the outside of the hull. My delima is how to plug the hole prior to glassing them in. I've thought of filling them with foam somehow but still how do I plug the vent so my filler wont run down into the bilge. Any help would be appreciated. I know Fellowship plugged his.

Strick

Re: Howd ya do it
 

I know how I would do it. Basically your going to make a mold out of cardboard, place it in through the hole and hold it place by pulling it toward you w/ string.

Take a flat pc of card board - like from a cardboard box. Cut it 3/4" larger than the dimensions of the actual hole.

Make a small hole in the dead center middle of the cardboard. Take a pc of twine and thread it thru and make a big knot so the knot won't get pulled through the hole.

Wet out w/ resin (2) plys of mat and place it on cardboard - cut mat so the string can run through it. Then, take a little resin and wet out 1" of the inside lip of the hole.

Then, bend the cardboard a bit and push it through the hole w/ the wetted mat laying on the cardboard. Make sure mat is laying flat. Align it all and pull the twine to you w/ the cardboard/mat laying flush against the inside of the hole.

Pre-think this part: Either put a stick in dirt near the boat and tie the twine to it just enough to keep the cardboard in place ( or use a big planter w/ dirt in it )

Let this cure. Cut twine off close to cured fiberglass. Then, lightly sand fiberglass.

If you've done the backs then the rest is cake.

I would then use stuff called Dura Glass or something like it ( it's a thickened resin and glass mix ) or use resin and cabosil to a putty texture. With a squeegee, smear it on to the fiberglass - fair it out. Leave enough room for some sheets of mat and gelcoat and you're home.

Re: Howd ya do it
 

I did mine just like abl111 said above the only difference is that I used a flap piece of fiberglass that I had lying around and used it instead of the cardboard then built out from there. Worked great. http://www.classicseacraft.com/mcgovern23page3.htm
FellowShip [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: Howd ya do it
 

Thanks fellas I'll give it a try.

Strick

Re: Howd ya do it
 

Maybe this is covered somewhere on the site, but since you guys are talking about it now, what made you decide to fill in the vents?

Re: Howd ya do it
 

For me they took away from the beauty of the SeaCraft lines not added to them. The other reason they served no real purpose, there are lots of ways to vent gas tanks fumes on out board boats.
FellowShip [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: Howd ya do it
 

I also agree that the vents are not necessary on an outboard. The gas tank already has a vent and the bilge does not need 4 large vents. I will find another way to vent the bilge in case fumes or fuel gets down there. Also the batteries are on the deck in the consel and not in the bilge. The vents are ugly. Take a look at fellow-hips boat. Also the newer SC did away with the vents.

Strick

Re: Howd ya do it
 

I see what you mean. It does look sweet. I'll have to give it some thought myself. Thanks for the idea.

Re: Howd ya do it
 

I had been under the impression from talking to a few restoration yards that I have spoken to that the vents had nothing to do with fumes and everything to do with moisture. I was told the new ones could do away with it because there was no wood involved. I certainly agree that it looks better without the vents though.

Re: Howd ya do it
 

I have similar concerns about the vents. I would like to do away with them however I am concerned about gas fumes and not having any circulation for moisture.

Re: Howd ya do it
 

I agree that it is important to vent for moisture and since restoration yards are probably tearing out rotton wood on a day to day basis I could see their way of thinking. However from a safety stand point gas fumes are a major concern. I'm not exactly sure but I think the CG has specific regs about venting the bilge on boats. Here is how I solved the problem on my Arena Craft to keep the CG off my back and made it look good at the same time. Note the holes drilled in the upper transom cap on the early restore pic. In the next picure of the boat lifted on the crane notice the two silver handles on either side of the swim platform that are actually vents going down to the bilge. I'm thinking of doing something simular on the 23 SC.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Alexis%...tfloat.jpg.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Alexis%...e/DSCN2441.JPG

Strick

Re: Howd ya do it
 

Nobody' asked for it but I have to give my nickle about the vents. Back before bilge blowers were required those vents were the main stay for forcing air through the bilges and out the the stern. They dont do anything when setting still but they do work when moving. I guess Im paranoid having an inboard and having seen an inboard or two pulling away from a fuel dock and going ka-boom I might be a little off base.( they were older wooden boats and happened back in the late 60's early 70's) You outboard guys still have fuel tanks in the hull and spark-producing equipment in and under the console- Even with bilge blowers they pull air better with the forward vents and are also pulling fresh air through. My nickles up- just a couple of things to consider. Craig

Re: Howd ya do it
 

Strick,

If you have a way of adequately venting out the moisture as well as sealing off the vents, I imagine there are plenty of members that would like to hear about it. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] The appearance would certainly benefit from those things being glassed over.

Re: Howd ya do it
 

Strick,

If you have a way of adequately venting out the moisture as well as sealing off the vents, I imagine there are plenty of members that would like to hear about it. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] The appearance would certainly benefit from those things being glassed over.

Re: Howd ya do it
 

Maybe adding some intake vents to the center consel that plum down to the bilge and having the vents in the stern cap like in the pic I showed may work. I'll have to figure out a way thats for sure as it's too late to turn back now. Thanks for the replies on this topic. Is The OtherTom out there? .... He is full of boating knowledge and I'd like to hear how he vented his bilge on his White Water CC.

Strick

Re: Howd ya do it
 

On my 23 CC outboard I cut a vent under the center consol just above the fuel and air lines 90 degree hose bracket that go into the tank. Because it is under the center consol no water gets into the area and the vent allows ample fresh air entering into it. There is access to let the air out bother through hatches in the deck bilge area and under the two storage compartments at the transom. I also have the big door that opens from the front of the center consol and another smaller door at the back of the center consol as well. All in all for a outboard that’s plenty. As for the moisture issue if you have used epoxy to laminate all your wood you shouldn’t have a moisture problem and if you didn’t laminate your wood you will have a moisture problem no matter how many vents you have. If I had a inboard gas or a i/o I would use a blower after I had the engine compartment opened and checked for a good long time.
FellowShip [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]