Well, after a month or so of work and repair

[jetroc0088]

I hope to splash my 20 CC tonight. It went under about a month ago and it should be completely repaired by the end of the day today. I can not wait. It is going to feel like a brand new boat with everything having been replaced.
wOOt wOOt!

[warthog5]

Where's the pix's? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Ryan]

yeah pix we love the boat porn! well I do. good luck
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[jetroc0088]

Well, it looks like it will hit the water Monday.
I will get some pictures and post them Monday.

[jetroc0088]

Ok, got it back. Have not put it in the water yet due to the storms then keep popping up. The guy that did the hull repairs for me said that I should not "sink" anymore money into this boat. He says that it is on its way out and when he was repairing the hull he noticed that it was starting to delaminate. What does this mean in layman's terms? Am I screwed on this boat, or is there still hope?

Thanks for the help,
Chris

[Scott]

Chris
That depends on what he was working on....

it was starting to delaminate

is somewhat broad... Did he give you a specific area or instance that this was occurring in ??

As far as what it means ..delaminate.. two surfaces that are bonded together are now unbonding , pulling apart and creating a "void" in that unbonded area hence a weaker structure. ( i.e. transom core {plywood} separating from the fiberglass skin )

Is the Fiberglass in the hull itself delaminating?? the transom?? the floor??(the later two are both are cored areas)
This is going to be a very general statement but all of us here have boats that have had some degree of delamination… Transoms, decks, hatches, gunwale cap etc etc

Am I screwed on this boat, or is there still hope?

Depends on whats wrong ... and then you need to determine how much you want to put into the boat ....

Anything can be fixed ... just a matter of how much $$$ you want to spend

[Bigshrimpin]

ask him to be more specific . . . The only work done was the transom correct?? . . . Like scott said - - - Maybe the floor or deck (tops of the gunnels) are delaminating?

[jetroc0088]

There were two holes in the hull where there was once a transducer mounted. He sanded down the to the glass to repair the holes. That is where he said that it was delaminating.

I like the boat. I really do. Although I do not want to keep dumping money into it, on top of the payments, if it is just going to be tossing it in the dump. I am not going to do anything drastic until after stiper season is over. Then I guess I will strip the bottom and see what turns up.

BTW, I put it in tonight and took it for a cruise. It runs great for a motor that has been under water. It started right up on the first turn of the key. I was amazed.

Thanks again for all the help. I really appriaciate it.

Chris

[Scott]

So your saying that the hull itself is delaminated (the fiberglass lamination) in the area of holes that where placed there for the transducer. Sounds like the woven roven/mat (used to lay the boat up) has been compromised ?? Dose the fiberglass guy think this is through out the hull??
I would think you could "sound" the hull to get a feel if you've got similar issues in other spots on the hull.

That would be interesting to see as I don’t think I have ever seen that type lay up delaminate(not saying that it isnt possible...I really dont know ). As I recall SeaCraft had a pretty robust lamination schedule using alternating layers of mat and roven….I just don’t understand how that could separate, Its like a glued joint in wood … if done properly should never fail in the joint. Between the resin, the mat (which chemically reacts with the resin and forms a bond) and the roven…I personally don’t know how that would come apart ….something cored is a different situation.

Trayders boat , also a 20 , was pretty bad ... such that I recall him saying the hull would flex as it went up on plane (due to busted up stringers) but I dont recall him saying anything about the hull itself delaminating.

AS far as the bottom goes I don’t know if stripping will help determine if there is further delamination as this would be hidden under the gelcoat (I dont think your planning on stripping the gelcoat down to the laminate). If anything you may see some blistering …. But that another story and is somewhat common in older boats that sit in the water. Plus that’s not a big deal to fix.

I guess (a long shot) if the laminate wasn’t wetted out and the holes were not sealed (transducer) water could travel into the laminate …via capillary action …… freeze and delam ….Thats a big long shot/stab in the dark however … I really don’t even know if thats possible

I’m real curious to hear more about this and if others have seen such a situation

[jetroc0088]

Everything you are saying makes perfect sense to me. I don’t see how it would get too bad. A friend of mine had mentioned pulling it out of the water and just going around and taping it to see if we could hear any tone differences, as to indicate soft spots in the hull. I think it is a long shot as well on the hull delaminating. I would bet that if anything it is only around the area of the transducer mount. The guy at the repair shot did say that he thought she still had a few good years in her. I just get nervous when I hear people talk down on the boat I have not had long enough to know better. I see that so many people restore these boats. There has to be a reason!

Thanks,
Chris

BTW: She made it through the night with out sinking wOOt wOOt!