What is Round Soft Circle in Bow Locker of 88 Newport

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Author Topic:   What is Round Soft Circle in Bow Locker of 88 Newport

Owen Schultz posted 04-06-2003 09:08 PM ET (US)
I recently bought a 1988 Newport and am going through it fixing it up. In the bottom of the bow storage locker is a round yellow rubber circle about 6-8 inches in diameter that is semi-soft to the touch and sort of embeded. Seems like some type seal. Is this something that came with the boat? Some sort of access to the inner hull? Anyone seen this before?
Sal DiMercurio posted 04-06-2003 09:12 PM ET (US)
Could be where you put the chain for your anchor, so it dosen't rust stain the hull, or rattle when your traveling..
Sal
jaccoserv posted 04-06-2003 09:16 PM ET (US)
I believe that spot to be where foam is injected into the hull. I think it is common on all classic whalers. The material you can see must be a plug the factory uses to fill the hole.
Owen Schultz posted 04-06-2003 09:26 PM ET (US)
Do you know if the plug is easily removed and put back? I'd like to take a peek, but am a little worried about trying to pull it out if it isn't going to just snap back in.
doobee posted 04-06-2003 10:27 PM ET (US)
That is where the foam is poured into the hull. After the foam cures, the hole is glassed over then covered with the plug material which is self leveling and saves on finishing time. Since it is in the anchor locker, cosmetics are not considered as important. I would not recommend trying to remove it.
Owen Schultz posted 04-06-2003 10:34 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the reply doobee. You learn something every day.
jimh posted 04-06-2003 10:58 PM ET (US)
This is a sprue hole, the access point where liquid was poured in and turned to foam.
The exact treatment of these sprue holes has varied. On my 1976 15-SPORT the foam was cut off flush with the gelcoat and apparently ground to a smooth and fair finish.
On some years and models a circular cap was laminated over the sprue hole.
The foam in my boat is hard and appears to be sealed. No water enters into it and it is not soft and spongy. The color is more like a dark beige.
Timo posted 04-07-2003 08:41 PM ET (US)
Ditto jimh...my '77 15' Sport has exactly the same.
I would be concerned that you state the hole is "semi-soft." Maybe the Newport is different from the 15 Sport, but what you describe is very different from my glassed-over (but not gel coated) very hard surface.
Look for others with the Newport to seek their comments.
doobee posted 04-07-2003 09:05 PM ET (US)
I wouldn't be concerned about the semi soft material. The self leveling compound that covers the sprue hole dries to a rubbery consistency. It must have been used on later models.
Owen Schultz posted 04-08-2003 09:49 AM ET (US)
Yeah doobee, it is very rubbery, but still seems to have a good seal all the way around it. I'm going to post a bunch of pictures of the boat soon. You'll be able to see it.

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Author	Topic: What is Round Soft Circle in Bow Locker of 88 Newport
Owen Schultz	posted 04-06-2003 09:08 PM ET (US) I recently bought a 1988 Newport and am going through it fixing it up. In the bottom of the bow storage locker is a round yellow rubber circle about 6-8 inches in diameter that is semi-soft to the touch and sort of embeded. Seems like some type seal. Is this something that came with the boat? Some sort of access to the inner hull? Anyone seen this before?
Sal DiMercurio	posted 04-06-2003 09:12 PM ET (US) Could be where you put the chain for your anchor, so it dosen't rust stain the hull, or rattle when your traveling.. Sal
jaccoserv	posted 04-06-2003 09:16 PM ET (US) I believe that spot to be where foam is injected into the hull. I think it is common on all classic whalers. The material you can see must be a plug the factory uses to fill the hole.
Owen Schultz	posted 04-06-2003 09:26 PM ET (US) Do you know if the plug is easily removed and put back? I'd like to take a peek, but am a little worried about trying to pull it out if it isn't going to just snap back in.
doobee	posted 04-06-2003 10:27 PM ET (US) That is where the foam is poured into the hull. After the foam cures, the hole is glassed over then covered with the plug material which is self leveling and saves on finishing time. Since it is in the anchor locker, cosmetics are not considered as important. I would not recommend trying to remove it.
Owen Schultz	posted 04-06-2003 10:34 PM ET (US) Thanks for the reply doobee. You learn something every day.
jimh	posted 04-06-2003 10:58 PM ET (US) This is a sprue hole, the access point where liquid was poured in and turned to foam. The exact treatment of these sprue holes has varied. On my 1976 15-SPORT the foam was cut off flush with the gelcoat and apparently ground to a smooth and fair finish. On some years and models a circular cap was laminated over the sprue hole. The foam in my boat is hard and appears to be sealed. No water enters into it and it is not soft and spongy. The color is more like a dark beige.
Timo	posted 04-07-2003 08:41 PM ET (US) Ditto jimh...my '77 15' Sport has exactly the same. I would be concerned that you state the hole is "semi-soft." Maybe the Newport is different from the 15 Sport, but what you describe is very different from my glassed-over (but not gel coated) very hard surface. Look for others with the Newport to seek their comments.
doobee	posted 04-07-2003 09:05 PM ET (US) I wouldn't be concerned about the semi soft material. The self leveling compound that covers the sprue hole dries to a rubbery consistency. It must have been used on later models.
Owen Schultz	posted 04-08-2003 09:49 AM ET (US) Yeah doobee, it is very rubbery, but still seems to have a good seal all the way around it. I'm going to post a bunch of pictures of the boat soon. You'll be able to see it.