| Soft Spots #20195 06/02/03 08:23 PM 06/02/03 08:23 PM |
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Ben_IV OP
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Posts: 19 | I have a 81' Hobie 16 that I love like a child but last time I was out we capsized and while trying to right the boat noticed quite a large soft spot in my port hull between the two pylons on the inner side. I was thinking that I could maybe beef up the fiberglass there for the remainder of the season until winter when I can look at other options. I was thinking about taking some fiberglass matting and resin and applying multiple layers to the soft spots. I was wondering if anybody has ever thought about this and if yall think it would reinforce it much? Let me know what you think, I'm on the verge of doing about anything to save my baby, thanks
Ben
Chapel Hill, NC
81' H16
82' H16
84' H14
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: MauganN20]
#20197 06/03/03 01:24 AM 06/03/03 01:24 AM |
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Ben_IV OP
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Posts: 19 | So should I drill holes about 5cm apart at the very top of the soft spots and continue to fill the holes full of epoxy until they fill up and overflow?
Ben
Chapel Hill, NC
81' H16
82' H16
84' H14
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: Ben_IV]
#20199 06/03/03 09:53 PM 06/03/03 09:53 PM |
Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 70 Sodus NY h16bill
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Posts: 70 Sodus NY | There is an article at www.hobiecat.com on how to do it. Tech tips or something like that. Saw it yesterday. Don't let it go too long. The first heavy air day can fold the hull in half. Seen it happen a few times. cheers Bill | | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: Ben_IV]
#20200 06/05/03 06:18 AM 06/05/03 06:18 AM |
Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 170 Australia Jules_topcat
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Posts: 170 Australia | Ben it depends what is wrong with your boat to determine the technique but if you go with the epoxy makes sure they are 10-5cm apart. I have done this many of times but its not the best for the boat.
Jules
Jules_topcat
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: Jules_topcat]
#20201 06/06/03 05:40 PM 06/06/03 05:40 PM |
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Ben_IV OP
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Posts: 19 | I drilled 96 holes in the side of the hull all on a grid about 5cm apart and removed all the broken up foam from the inside with a coat hanger and an industrial vacuum. The epoxy is in the mail right now and as soon as it comes i'm gonna start filling it up. If this is not the best thing for the boat what is?
Ben
Chapel Hill, NC
81' H16
82' H16
84' H14
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: Ben_IV]
#20202 06/06/03 06:58 PM 06/06/03 06:58 PM |
Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 1,252 California mmiller
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Posts: 1,252 California | Removing the foam and replacing with solid resin is not the best idea. This will then be a 1/4" thick sheet of epoxy in the hull wall? Heavy and will heat and possibly distort the hull wall when curing. If the epoxy is too stiff it may also crack. If you have already removed the foam, you should probably cut the outer glass layer off and fill the inner area with glass mat or more of the foam sheeting that was originally in there and laminate it back together. Best to leave the foam in and inject the resin to re-laminate the delaminated layer together. Typically the foam is fine and is just not bonded to one of the glass layers. I have personally done this to a 16 deck back in 1984 and that boat was just fine last I heard. The resin I used was somewhat flexible and not brittle. Something from a company called Boat Life. The stuff was called Git Rot. A two-part epoxy that is really easy to mix and inject from the plastic bottle it comes in. Here is the tech image from the Hobie Cat Support pages. Pretty rough but explains it pretty well. Visit the Hobie Cat Forums at New Hobie Cat Forums | | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: mmiller]
#20203 06/06/03 09:16 PM 06/06/03 09:16 PM |
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Ben_IV OP
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Posts: 19 | ok, so now that the foam is gone where can i get more foam to inject in there? Would a carpet type foam from lowe's or something do the trick or do i need something else. if i go with fiberglass matting we are talking about a whole lot of it b/c the spot is about 3 feet long, plus would have to fill in a quarter inch hole. should i maybe look for some type of plumbing foam or something that would fill in the area w/o me having to cut the top layer of glass off?
Ben
Chapel Hill, NC
81' H16
82' H16
84' H14
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: mmiller]
#20205 06/07/03 10:00 AM 06/07/03 10:00 AM |
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Ben_IV OP
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Posts: 19 | Not without a four hour drive down to wilmington. I had read on here where a guy used some stuff called great stuff foam to fill in the area and apparently it ended up ok. what's your take on that?
Ben
Chapel Hill, NC
81' H16
82' H16
84' H14
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: Ben_IV]
#20206 06/07/03 01:37 PM 06/07/03 01:37 PM |
Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 1,252 California mmiller
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Posts: 1,252 California | I have no experience with foam injection for this issue. Biggest concern of mine will be the closed cell (water tight) aspect of the foam and the expansion. The expanding foam will likely force the two glass layers apart somewhat. You may have to have something solid agains the outer skin so it doesn't create a big bump area. Visit the new Hobie Cat forums at: New Hobie Cat Forums | | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: mmiller]
#20207 06/07/03 06:58 PM 06/07/03 06:58 PM |
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Ben_IV OP
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Posts: 19 | I did some research on this great stuff foam and here is the website, http://www.dow.com/greatstuff . It says it bonds to fiberglass and creates an airtight closed cell suface impervious to most solvents. The expansion rate for this stuff is minimal and at most 3 fold. I figure if i do it slowly in layers i might be ok.
Ben
Chapel Hill, NC
81' H16
82' H16
84' H14
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: Ben_IV]
#20208 06/08/03 05:33 PM 06/08/03 05:33 PM |
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Ben_IV OP
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Posts: 19 | Used the "great stuff" today....looks like it worked perfect. Expanded at not too large a rate and filled in everywhere. I am very pleased.
Ben
Chapel Hill, NC
81' H16
82' H16
84' H14
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: MauganN20]
#20210 06/10/03 11:25 AM 06/10/03 11:25 AM |
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Ben_IV OP
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Posts: 19 | I used this great stuff to replace the foam and then fiberglassed over the area and it's rock solid. I'm very pleased. Guess the real test will come in the first day of heavy air.
Ben
Chapel Hill, NC
81' H16
82' H16
84' H14
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: MauganN20]
#20211 06/11/03 08:42 AM 06/11/03 08:42 AM |
Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 170 Australia Jules_topcat
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Posts: 170 Australia | See what happens when you ont listen to the person who makes the boats.
Jules_topcat
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: MauganN20]
#20212 06/11/03 08:43 AM 06/11/03 08:43 AM |
Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 170 Australia Jules_topcat
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Posts: 170 Australia | See what happens when you dont listen to the person who makes the boats.
Jules_topcat
| | | Re: Soft Spots
[Re: Jules_topcat]
#20213 06/11/03 10:37 AM 06/11/03 10:37 AM |
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Ben_IV OP
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Posts: 19 | well for an 81 that's starting to show age it's not worth a four hour drive down to wilmington to get what the "guy who makes the boats says" i'm gonna part w/ her and get a new one. Thanks
Ben
Chapel Hill, NC
81' H16
82' H16
84' H14
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