How am I going to fix this?
 

Perfect morning air is still, slight chop on the water, kids are at play group with mom and daddy doesn't need to be at work until 2. At the lake by 10 and ready to start. After a couple of pulls this happens.

Mounting frame is completely detached from the hull. Basically only the hardware is holding it in.

I'm thinking I need to clean it up well with acetone and use epoxy to set it back in place.

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

That can't be good......

Looks like there is no glass fabric running up the rails, only epoxy, which may be why it failed.... Looks like a glass job (instead of just epoxy) should fix it right up and have you back on the water in a short time. I would definately use fabric.....

Good luck,

T-Daddy

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

Epoxy is only a quick and inexpensive way to hold them in. Most of the time it's OK, however they do fail. Glassing is the best solution.

1. Clean the area with acetone first
2. Sand the area 1" from the rails with a heavy grit paper to promote adhesion.
3. Clean with acetone again.
4. Use fiberglass tape and poly resin and do something like this..... <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7922343">www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp

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RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

Thanks Scott, I knew I could count on you for some sound advice.

Should I concern myself with sanding the urethane off of the wood or will the poly resin bond with it?

So use some epoxy to locate the frame, allow it to cure. Wet the joints with resin, apply tape, paint over tape with resin until saturated and last fine tune tape placement before resin starts to cure.

I was actually hoping you'd say the best solution was your new Cat! What are the dimensions of that hull?

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

PEER,

your right,
the best solution is one of Scott's NEW Cat.

just trying to help you in your decision,

lol

Dan.

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

Hey...I said glass first!!!.....:D:D:D:D

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

Indeed you did. Scott simply fleshed it out a bit.

I knew when I got into this hobby I was going to have to get my hands sticky with resin at some point. I guess now is as good a time as any.

Will nitrle gloves survive when working with this stuff?

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

Haha, I figured you would already know the absolute BEST solution!http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...wink_smile.gif When to you want to make that order....er...ah, I mean FIX your problem? hehe
Just to answer your question, it's just shy of 50" long with a 14.75" beam.

As far as sanding the wood, absolutely. always roughen up any area that will be bonded to. Looking back a couple posts from that link I gave you notice that I used blocks to hold the alignment. It works as a perfect jig since they are cut perfectly square and at 5 1/16" spacing. The additional glass tape makes up for that slightly increased width and makes for a perfect fit with any engine mounts designed for 5" spacing.

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

Nitrile gloves are the only ones I'll ever use. The latex type are difficult to get on, usually too small anyway as I have large hands. The other kind out there are vinyl, absolute crap for working around resins and solvents. Soon as acetone comes into contact with latex, it melts on your hands. Nitrile gloves are designed for harsh solutions and will not dissolve with resin or any other cleaning solution you will be using such as the acetone.

Keep a container of baby powder or talc around. Apply that to your hands first and you'll easily get them on and keep your hands from sticking to the inside of the glove.

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

I use the nitrile at work all the time. Keep a box on top of my tool box. Acetone or ethyl alcohol is what I use to clean laser scales and I've found the nitrile is fine with the alcohol but will eventually break down with the acetone.

I'd like to take the easy way out and buy a new hull but I think it best I keep flogging this one for the remainder of the season.

In the fall I'll make my choice. Really want a turbine or turbines in something big. Next best thing would be twin inlines. I'm on the great lakes so big water is everywhere!

Thanks again.

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

:)

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

I had the same thing happen to my Blackjack last summer. I did epoxy it and it held for the remainder of the summer. Now I'm making a project out of the hull and ripped the old stuff out and installed a new engine rail. Now I can use any motor mount I want and move things around inside the boat to get it to balance. Also allowed me to lower everything which I'm hoping will help the handling on this tall/top heavy boat.

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

That has to be easier with the top half removed.

You could use any motor mounts you wanted with the original rails. Just needed to make PVC spacer and use longer bolts like I did!

I'm going to glass it in, hopefully over the weekend.

This fall I plan to, like I'm the only one, start my dreamboat build so I don't want to do anything other then maintain it.

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

The top being off makes it a dream to work on. I've got a couple little things left to do while it's off, then I'll put it back on. I just finished an Expresscraft Thunderbolt and you talk about no room to work with. Very frustrating at times.

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

This is how!

Now I can't take the credit, well except for paying the bill.

Knowing my limitations both in work area and experience with fibre glass I chose, wisely I think, to have it professionally repaired. Being on the great lakes there are plenty of boat repair places around.

The finish on the bottom of the hull is spectacular while a bit rough inside. However I did give him a limited budget so I'm glad he spent the time where it shows most.

After some two weeks I'll be back on the water tomorrow. Nearly threw the proverbial towel in after this last break down but in the end I think I'll be happy I kept at it. Hopefully the financial pit this has become has reached it's bottom.

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

Glad you got it fixed, just one bit of advice for others folowing this thread and wanting to do the repair on their own,
POLY over Poly or Epoxy over poly is OK,
Poly over Epoxy won't harden. [:@]

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

? is there an easy way to tell if a hull is polly or epoxy

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

I have to add stringers to my hull (didn't come with any for some reason, but this way I can go full length and make it to my specs...), so should I use poly resin or epoxy and cloth? the previous owner of the hull cut the top off, so I have a bit of work ahead of me, but I got a fairly decent deal on it... ($100 for a 46" fiberglass hull, JR 3ch FM synthesized radio and receiver, and a couple weedie engines) I'll just make my own post about it soon...

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

Rangerfredbob, already answered....

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

Usually if the hull is gelcoated its polyester or the new vinylester.Safest thing to use if your unsure is to use epoxy for the repairs with cloth not mat.Epoxy wont break down the binder used to hold matting together.Thats another way to see if you hull is polyester,if on the inside its mat then thats a dead giveaway,although i use cloth on the inside of my polyester hulls as do some others so id try epoxy if your not sure just to be safe,also epoxy is stronger so would make a better repair:D.
Mart

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

sand the hull a little, then smell it, polyester stinks, epoxy smells like permmed hair

RE: How am I going to fix this?
 

You got something you want to tell us Mike :)
Mart