Gunnel repair question

[fdheld34]

I am beginning to think about repairs on my Topaz after I get the engine rigged and up and running.
I have noticed that the top of the gunwales/gunnels are soft and it appears that the wood encapsulated in fiberglass has become rotten. How do I replace rotten wood in the gunnel tops? Should I cut in from the top, remove all traces of wood, leaving bottom fiberglass core intact and replace with new wood soaked in resin and then fiberglass on top? or somehow go in from the underside?

Also any pictures or links showing this repair would be very helpful!!
Thanks in advance!

-Fred

[Blue_Heron]

Fred,
If you can get to the underside to cut through the bottom laminate, that's going to be your best approach. It will be a PITA to get the bottom laminate and core out, but much easier to put it back together. The work involved in cutting out the bottom laminate and core pales in comparison to the work of fairing and refinishing the top.
Dave

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by Blue_Heron

Fred,
If you can get to the underside to cut through the bottom laminate, that's going to be your best approach. It will be a PITA to get the bottom laminate and core out, but much easier to put it back together. The work involved in cutting out the bottom laminate and core pales in comparison to the work of fairing and refinishing the top.
Dave

Sage advice.

Make some peanut butter up.

[DonV]

Hummmm......do I work the peanut butter laying on my back or standing up?? Hey Fred, not sure about you, but this will take a bit of painful thinking!!

[BigLew]

Make a plan, lock it in your mind, close your eys and DO IT! Du you have a friend with a toolmaster or whatever they are called. The occilating things? Might help.

[strick]

Originally Posted by fdheld34

[COLOR=#1f497d][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri] Should I cut in from the top, remove all traces of wood, leaving bottom fiberglass core intact and replace with new wood soaked in resin and then fiberglass on top? or somehow go in from the underside?

Soaking or painting wood with polyester resin does very little to water proof it. Epoxy is much better if you are planning on trying to coat/soak your wood coring.

strick

[Caymanboy]

Hmmmm, I donno. Would I rather spend time laying upside down, working in a very tight space, with gussets, hullsides, etc. Or, would I like to be on top of the work, do a little xtra fairing. Hmmmmmmm.
Guess it comes down to what are the plans when you finish, are you going to retain the original non-skid or do you care and just plan on painting and non-skiding the deck.

[fdheld34]

Thanks all for the good advice..
I plan on redoing the nonskid..it is in pretty rough shape!!
So go from top then?
-Fred

[DonV]

I'm backed in a corner on my gunnels, I really have to do it this year....especially the port side. I'm guessing one of the previous owners never heard of 5200, I mean why drill a giant hole to mount a fricking drink holder and not seal it?? I'm 90% sure I'm going through the top. I plan on using Kiwigrip so I don't think the fairing has to be dead perfect like I tried to accomplish when I did the transom.

[fdheld34]

Hey Don...that makes sense..guess I will go from top as well...more I think about it...my a@@ is too big to sit on or lay on for extended periods of time!