Itsasave
New Member
Hey all,
Looking for guidance. I’ve looked through the threads and was hoping to get project specific help. I owned a sunfish growing up, and picked up a boat on a whim this weekend at a very low price, because I want to teach my son to sail (and because I miss sailing a lot). Admittedly I did not do my research on my purchase and after a really long drive to pick up the boat I decided I wasn’t turning back empty handed. After cartopping our new addition close to 4 hours home, and breaking the news to my wife, I was surprised to hear her happy that I had a new project to work on (she knows how I get when I don’t have something to focus on). I spent the first few days of ownership with boat still on the roof of my car, while I built a stand for the boat as clearly it needs to have some work done. Stand complete, I got to power washing and taking note of needed parts. I did weigh the boat after washing it and was glad to see that I was not going to be the only one in my house trying to shed a few pounds. Luckily the 203lb boat has more to loose than I do.
My plan is...leak test to make sure I know where this water came from. Then cut my access ports (between the coaming and dagger board) and behind the cockpit and get to drying with whatever much argued over method I’ve read about. While doing this, repair daggerboard and tiller (tiller and extension are cracked/need serious TLC or replacement). Once boat is dried (whenever that is) attack hull and deck cracks/gouges/spidering. Paint. Final hardware swaps. Enjoy before summer is over (hopefully).
Other than my order of operations which I Hope sounds right to you all, I do have a few questions regarding fiberglass repair which I only have a little experience in doing so far to date. As you can see from pictures, whoever has repaired the boat in the past, did not skimp on the resin-is the best method for removal, to heat it up and scrape away? Or am I better off cutting those sections out entirely, since if this is the quality of work done, why not just do It right? For the keep repair, the shoreline method of fiberglass battens actually looks like an efficient means-or am I oversimplifying the process?
In terms of equipment I’ll need, looks like harbor freight will be my friend I have the usual power tools and a dremel. But im guessing I’ll add a disc sander and a rivet gun. In addition to the brushes/rollers/scrapers I’ll need when its paint time. Obviously the fiberglass, filler and gel coat
Stuff as well. Is there anything else I am
Missing or something you wish you had when doing a similar project?
I’m having a lot of fun so far, and am looking forward to the challenge. So glad there are so
many resources available to guide me along the way. Let me know if I’m missing anything major or if you have any advice I should be looking out
for. Any guidance is really appreciated, the pics only hit some of the damage I have to look forward to. Stay healthy.
Looking for guidance. I’ve looked through the threads and was hoping to get project specific help. I owned a sunfish growing up, and picked up a boat on a whim this weekend at a very low price, because I want to teach my son to sail (and because I miss sailing a lot). Admittedly I did not do my research on my purchase and after a really long drive to pick up the boat I decided I wasn’t turning back empty handed. After cartopping our new addition close to 4 hours home, and breaking the news to my wife, I was surprised to hear her happy that I had a new project to work on (she knows how I get when I don’t have something to focus on). I spent the first few days of ownership with boat still on the roof of my car, while I built a stand for the boat as clearly it needs to have some work done. Stand complete, I got to power washing and taking note of needed parts. I did weigh the boat after washing it and was glad to see that I was not going to be the only one in my house trying to shed a few pounds. Luckily the 203lb boat has more to loose than I do.
My plan is...leak test to make sure I know where this water came from. Then cut my access ports (between the coaming and dagger board) and behind the cockpit and get to drying with whatever much argued over method I’ve read about. While doing this, repair daggerboard and tiller (tiller and extension are cracked/need serious TLC or replacement). Once boat is dried (whenever that is) attack hull and deck cracks/gouges/spidering. Paint. Final hardware swaps. Enjoy before summer is over (hopefully).
Other than my order of operations which I Hope sounds right to you all, I do have a few questions regarding fiberglass repair which I only have a little experience in doing so far to date. As you can see from pictures, whoever has repaired the boat in the past, did not skimp on the resin-is the best method for removal, to heat it up and scrape away? Or am I better off cutting those sections out entirely, since if this is the quality of work done, why not just do It right? For the keep repair, the shoreline method of fiberglass battens actually looks like an efficient means-or am I oversimplifying the process?
In terms of equipment I’ll need, looks like harbor freight will be my friend I have the usual power tools and a dremel. But im guessing I’ll add a disc sander and a rivet gun. In addition to the brushes/rollers/scrapers I’ll need when its paint time. Obviously the fiberglass, filler and gel coat
Stuff as well. Is there anything else I am
Missing or something you wish you had when doing a similar project?
I’m having a lot of fun so far, and am looking forward to the challenge. So glad there are so
many resources available to guide me along the way. Let me know if I’m missing anything major or if you have any advice I should be looking out
for. Any guidance is really appreciated, the pics only hit some of the damage I have to look forward to. Stay healthy.
Attachments
-
F380E253-F2D6-485F-A975-188870FC0658.jpeg1 MB · Views: 134
-
9E16576F-E30E-4735-8A56-C7EE2F5F4ACB.jpeg1.8 MB · Views: 131
-
6FFFCAF7-2896-40D7-A27A-7FD4B773E48F.jpeg448.1 KB · Views: 120
-
4CFD627D-074E-4B92-99E0-F60518A40B63.jpeg580.2 KB · Views: 123
-
691CBF06-A6FD-4BDE-A4B5-C410F25E8EA2.jpeg1.3 MB · Views: 123
-
95774614-2AB3-4575-B9C8-192F613CFC70.jpeg701.2 KB · Views: 126
-
760A34BD-3930-4863-83F8-F2F6937525BC.jpeg643.8 KB · Views: 127
-
78E05622-341A-433A-A558-91B75A26AF4E.jpeg403.9 KB · Views: 124
-
8EF333B8-DF96-4F5F-B497-326C0E3DB22D.jpeg634.9 KB · Views: 119