Need help with "bruised" hull

[esoxesox]

Hello Boys,

I've found a little spot, about the size of a matchbook, that has been cut out and replaced with a glass patch by a previous owner. I believe it is a cheapo repair job from a hole caused during trailering. I never noticed it until it I was following someone and they commented on the black spot on the hull. The soft spot is right on the keel, center-line if you will, and adjacent to the thru-hull fitting on the forward fish box. If I leave the boat in the water it take on less than a gallon of water overnight but the boat is on a trailer 99% of the time. I drilled a few pilots and got oily dirt from the hold.

So, what to do? This is a freshwater boat and I am planning on some major teardown projects this winter. At that time I could "do it right". I REALLY want to get on the water ASAP and would like to postpone the "right" way until later. Can I get by drying the outside surface and applying marine-tex or West or something like that?

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Scot

[John R]

Look up the threads from Marc - there was a good one on this subject - but here is the hull repair pics he had - this might help.... http://www.theboatzone.com/gallery/markhull

[esoxesox]

Thanks for that John.

Update - I pulled out the "matchbook" and found wet wood...damn...

[EBEACH]

Don't worry too much. I think that wood is just a backing between the liner and the hull. It's there to give more meat to the thru hull for the fish box. I'd leave the wood there, and just let it dry out a bit. Pull out your drain tube going into the fish box. That is most likley where the water is coming in. pull the tube and let the wood dry out. Then use 1/2" PVC to make a mold for the drain. No more water leaking past any tube. It's an easy fix. The 1/2" pvc will give you an 7/8" hole. no need for the coupler.

how to fix the drain tube

[saltydog]

Ebeach is right about that drain, it is probably were some of your water is coming from. Ran into the same problem on Otto's 23. As for the, "matchbox" if you are going to do some major renovating and wnat to get her in the water right away you can let the hole dry out for a while, use halogen lamp on it, not too close though! Grind a bevel back around the perimeter of the hole at about 12 to 1 ratio get some west system and start laminating. Use mat first then two layers of cloth then mat then two layers of cloth until you come out past the bevel. Not going to look good but will give a good hold and keep water out until you are ready.

[esoxesox]

Thank you boys, you have lifted a dark cloud that had descended over my little 20 footer. I had visions of a full scale tear-down this winter to fix that thing up. With clear skies and warm air (70's that is), I ought to be able to get rolling by the weekend. Might only be a 6 pack job, though I almost passed that count tonight just thinking about all the work I might be in for. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

I've reviewed the archives and the specs and everything else I could find. I was under the impression that the only wood in the boat, aside from the wood core in the decking, was in the transom. Are there other places that I'm going to find rotted, wet wood?

Thanks again,

Scot

[ July 02, 2003, 01:38 AM: Message edited by: esoxesox ]

[Dave Hirshberg]

Well, aside form the floor, box stringers, keel board, transom, port and starboard bulkheads, fuel tank lid and the hatches there's practically no wood at all. But don't worry too much about all the wood, it was and still is an integral part of boat building. Fortunately SeaCraft did it far better than other builders at the time.
I have a hunch that the wood you are finding in the keel area under that patch is actually a 3 inch keel that runs the length of the boat. Do as everyone stated above. When you fix it for good you may have to cut a small circular access plate above the repair site in the fwd fish box to get at the keel and glass form the inside. But only if you can't get thru to good wood from the outside.

[esoxesox]

Thanks 70s. I think you are right on the keel. It is about three inches wide and enclosed in glass...used to be anyway.

Maybe I should have picked the username "Still Learnin'"...

Scot

Lake Superior is flat calm today and I'm at work. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]