Thanks for the help. The slats I have should work like the sail battens. Wish I had an old hull to work off of but this is our first sunfish and they are hard to come by around here. Sounds like we are on the right track and we’ll keep posting to the forum as our project progresses. Thanks again!Fiberglassing is kind of fun, even if you don't know what you're doing!
Yours is a fairly common repair.
If you had access to a wrecked hull, I'd cut a piece out to fill in the hole. Rivet it, use as a backing, then build up layers over it.
Got lonnng sail battens? I've got a dozen, but it's too long a drive.
You could stretch 4-inch fiberglass tape over a disposable [like masking tape] surface, and build two layers over it. The object of this exercise is to make a backing. Rivet and bond inside and build layers, adding layers until the epoxy smokes through the cup. (I use slow-set catalyst to stretch my minutes over the repair). Leftover epoxy goes to "whip" the ends of ropes, and to make permanent repairs of splintered wood products, like wooden stairs or docks.
Thickened epoxy is handy and strong, but the tube starts out half-empty--and the stuff's not cheap.
Next?
Thanks Al! We bought the bailer from you a few months ago. We really appreciate your input. It turned into a bigger project than we first thought but we're going to give it a shot. We'll post pictures as it goes along. Thanks again!Robin U,
Your plan is spot on.
Just curious - where in Central NY are you? I am in Cazenovia just south east of Syracuse. I have done a bunch of these Sunfish chine repairs and am happy to consult if you have questions: aglos@colgate.edu
Alan Glos
Can get some. What would we do with it?Got any thin copper wire?
Makes sense. Thanks!Too late to edit the above.
I guess I meant right angles (before I dropped off to sleep).Now that I've checked for hurricane damage--drizzle only--no damage...continuing...
String or duct-tape would work: The idea being,
1) to approximate the chine's corner,
2) to reduce sag of wet tape,
3) limit the quantity of build-up needed.