I just bought a Sunfish, I think an '81, in fairly good shape with the exception of significant fiberglass damage around the bow handle. Evidently while stored it was dropped or compressed upside-down with its weight on the handle, crushing the glass.
The handle is still secure but I think the backing wood block has delaminated from the fiberglass. The boat has not been in the water for several years and doesn't feel waterlogged, but what I can see of the wood backer suggests it's seen some weather.
For the repair I'm hoping I can get away with the following: for access, adding a 5-6" inspection hatch aft of the handle area; dremeling-out the area of glass damage; replacing the original wood backer with a new marine ply backing block wider than the hole; gluing the new backer in place; patching the hole with layered glass and gelcoat, then redrilling and reinstalling the handle.
Any thoughts? I'm grateful for any words of wisdom. I've never chopped into a Sunfish before so I'm not completely sure where the handle's support comes from or what obstacles I'm going to run into. For instance would it be easier to remove the aluminum trim channel around the bow and separate the hull halves to get at this repair? I'm looking for the easiest, most effective way to do this. Thanks in advance for all assistance.
Dave
The handle is still secure but I think the backing wood block has delaminated from the fiberglass. The boat has not been in the water for several years and doesn't feel waterlogged, but what I can see of the wood backer suggests it's seen some weather.
For the repair I'm hoping I can get away with the following: for access, adding a 5-6" inspection hatch aft of the handle area; dremeling-out the area of glass damage; replacing the original wood backer with a new marine ply backing block wider than the hole; gluing the new backer in place; patching the hole with layered glass and gelcoat, then redrilling and reinstalling the handle.
Any thoughts? I'm grateful for any words of wisdom. I've never chopped into a Sunfish before so I'm not completely sure where the handle's support comes from or what obstacles I'm going to run into. For instance would it be easier to remove the aluminum trim channel around the bow and separate the hull halves to get at this repair? I'm looking for the easiest, most effective way to do this. Thanks in advance for all assistance.
Dave