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Author Topic:   hull repair hole

kliesh posted 06-13-2001 01:43 PM ET (US)
My 13' has two gouges appr 1" x 3" and 1" deep into foam. In fact foam is compressed or missing. I have read the article on epoxy repair and printed as it is very helpful and I plan on dropping by West Marine. Problem is nothing seems to address the void in the foam. But it does not appear that epoxy can be packed in the void as it would not dry. Does anyone have any suggestions. Thank you.
lhg posted 06-13-2001 02:16 PM ET (US)
You need a copy of BW's special instructions on how to repair their hulls, especially with missing foam. You won't find the instructions you need at West Marine, except for the some of the materials.
Makonut posted 06-13-2001 02:20 PM ET (US)
If memory serves me right...I saw a compressed can of foam at West Marine..Might want to check it out.
A Li Volsi posted 06-13-2001 02:22 PM ET (US)
Does anyone have a copy of the "special instructions" for hull repair? Please e-mail me. Thanks!
Soho posted 06-13-2001 04:45 PM ET (US)
FWIW - I would think that for the size of the holes/gouges you describe you could fill the major part of the void with a piece of wooden dowel or something similar and then use the WEST epoxy to seal it all off etc. The wood just acting as something to take up space, as if you pack that much epoxy in it will cook itself. The foam in the cans will work too, but would be overkill to fill the relatively small gouges you describe.
Ciao,
Ron
lhg posted 06-13-2001 05:01 PM ET (US)
From the BW instructions I have, they do not recommend spraying foam into the hull.
Rather, they recommend buying the foam in sheets or blocks, and cutting out blocks to fit into the hull voids, then glassing them over. If spray foam is used, they recommend forming it up in a box or something, then once again cutting out the right sized blocks to fit into the hull.
First, you have to square up the damaged foam in the boat hull to receive the new foam blocks. The new foam blocks should not be glued in place, as the glue line is hard to sand flush when the foam is sanded down to form the new surface for the glass. They recommend TOOTHPICKS, believe it or not!
As I have said before, there is nothing in the West's literature that correctly addresses fixing a damaged Whaler hull, unless damage is not through the skin. Once the skin is punctured, specific new foam techniques have to be employed, and as mentioned above, do not involve simply pumping in large amounts of epoxy. This should never be done!

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Author	Topic: hull repair hole
kliesh	posted 06-13-2001 01:43 PM ET (US) My 13' has two gouges appr 1" x 3" and 1" deep into foam. In fact foam is compressed or missing. I have read the article on epoxy repair and printed as it is very helpful and I plan on dropping by West Marine. Problem is nothing seems to address the void in the foam. But it does not appear that epoxy can be packed in the void as it would not dry. Does anyone have any suggestions. Thank you.
lhg	posted 06-13-2001 02:16 PM ET (US) You need a copy of BW's special instructions on how to repair their hulls, especially with missing foam. You won't find the instructions you need at West Marine, except for the some of the materials.
Makonut	posted 06-13-2001 02:20 PM ET (US) If memory serves me right...I saw a compressed can of foam at West Marine..Might want to check it out.
A Li Volsi	posted 06-13-2001 02:22 PM ET (US) Does anyone have a copy of the "special instructions" for hull repair? Please e-mail me. Thanks!
Soho	posted 06-13-2001 04:45 PM ET (US) FWIW - I would think that for the size of the holes/gouges you describe you could fill the major part of the void with a piece of wooden dowel or something similar and then use the WEST epoxy to seal it all off etc. The wood just acting as something to take up space, as if you pack that much epoxy in it will cook itself. The foam in the cans will work too, but would be overkill to fill the relatively small gouges you describe. Ciao, Ron
lhg	posted 06-13-2001 05:01 PM ET (US) From the BW instructions I have, they do not recommend spraying foam into the hull. Rather, they recommend buying the foam in sheets or blocks, and cutting out blocks to fit into the hull voids, then glassing them over. If spray foam is used, they recommend forming it up in a box or something, then once again cutting out the right sized blocks to fit into the hull. First, you have to square up the damaged foam in the boat hull to receive the new foam blocks. The new foam blocks should not be glued in place, as the glue line is hard to sand flush when the foam is sanded down to form the new surface for the glass. They recommend TOOTHPICKS, believe it or not! As I have said before, there is nothing in the West's literature that correctly addresses fixing a damaged Whaler hull, unless damage is not through the skin. Once the skin is punctured, specific new foam techniques have to be employed, and as mentioned above, do not involve simply pumping in large amounts of epoxy. This should never be done!