Wednesday, January 11, 2012

A little advise

After talking with a boat builder here, I have learned a great deal in the past week. Most things I have done are correct, but a few I need to change. This guy is in his 60s and has rebuilt lots of boats. Here is what he said.

1. Seal everything and do not use limber holes.
2. Use a rubberized coating inside your compartments after all glassing is done
3. Glass and rubberize the underside of the deck
4. Use stainless screws to hold down the deck even if you are using epoxy, and seal with 5200.
5. Epoxy is over rated, and if not mixed just right is not as strong (his words not mine)
6. Poly will fry your brain as it has his... LOL!!!
7. If you are a good glasser you do not need 1708 and you should use the CSM woven method  I guess I am not good enough... LOL
8. Do not seal up the gas tank compartment in case of a leak. He said access panels are ok, but he preferred to use a full hatch.
9. When foaming under a deck you need to use 4# foam, not 2# in a big boat like mine. It provides more stiffness and stops the boat from twisting as much. This also helps keep cracks from forming in your glass.
10. Lots of bulkheads to help with torsional twist also.
11. Run a large PVC pipe from the ski locker to the bilge for cable runs if needed. I have not done this, but am considering it.
12. If you can do without a ski locker, do not put the hole in your deck. The water runs around the opening and under the bottom of the deck and will find holes. However, if you really make sure it is sealed, get in there after the deck is on, and glass the joint, you will be ok.
13. Last but not least. Pop for covered storage. All boat covers leak.

He has really been helpful in what I have been doing and I am sooo grateful. I still want to put in limber holes though. It is just nagging at me.

Ok... Now for what I got done yesterday. This stringers and bulkheads are totally glassed in, and now I need to cap them off.

2 comments:

  1. Is the PVC pipe considered the primary drain from the ski locker to the bilge. The reason I ask is because I am trying to fix my drain issue from the ski locker to bilge which tunnels under the gas tank of my bayliner. There is no false floor. Should I make one or what should I do

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  2. Yes it is. Mine had the false floor, and that is the only reason I put it back in.

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