Idiots guide to boat fixing?
Discussion
Bought this cheaply with the intention of putting it on the pond. Looks pretty sound all round apart from this wooden strip in the middle.
In idiot terms, for someone who knows bugger all about boats, whats the best way to fix this and get it watertight?
I'd wondered if putting in another length of wood and fibreglassing over it would work?
In idiot terms, for someone who knows bugger all about boats, whats the best way to fix this and get it watertight?
I'd wondered if putting in another length of wood and fibreglassing over it would work?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GORILLA-FILLER-WEATHERPRO...
No need to do this ...
Just trim off the excess, and away you go!
Enjoy.
No need to do this ...
Just trim off the excess, and away you go!
Enjoy.
pequod said:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GORILLA-FILLER-WEATHERPRO...
No need to do this ...
Just trim off the excess, and away you go!
Enjoy.
Seriously? It's that simple?!No need to do this ...
Just trim off the excess, and away you go!
Enjoy.
And here was me looking at fibreglass and the like.
Thank you!
sociopath said:
Do you mean filling and fibre glassing over the keel socket?
I hope you don't
Now if I had half a clue what a keel socket was I could answer you... I hope you don't
The wooden bit that runs down the middle seems to have a hole along it. Thats the only thing I can see that would cause an issue. Its that hole I assume I need to fill?
SistersofPercy said:
sociopath said:
Do you mean filling and fibre glassing over the keel socket?
I hope you don't
Now if I had half a clue what a keel socket was I could answer you... I hope you don't
The wooden bit that runs down the middle seems to have a hole along it. Thats the only thing I can see that would cause an issue. Its that hole I assume I need to fill?
Got oars and the rowlocks?
pequod said:
Should have said, the hole in the plank at the front end is for ... well never mind what it's actually for, but keep it as it will hold a pint glass, sans handle obs!
Got oars and the rowlocks?
So the hole is supposed to be there? Wont the water just flood in? (told you this was idiot territory!)Got oars and the rowlocks?
Other than that hole its sound from what I can see, just needs a good clean.
Rowlocks are £8 on Amazon and I'll need a set of oars as well.
Can I paint it? If so what with?
SistersofPercy said:
So the hole is supposed to be there? Wont the water just flood in? (told you this was idiot territory!)
Other than that hole its sound from what I can see, just needs a good clean.
Rowlocks are £8 on Amazon and I'll need a set of oars as well.
Can I paint it? If so what with?
oh that hole! I'm guessing thats mast then. I don't think I'll need that on my little pond lolOther than that hole its sound from what I can see, just needs a good clean.
Rowlocks are £8 on Amazon and I'll need a set of oars as well.
Can I paint it? If so what with?
No, the gap I mean is the one in the base of the boat. Assume thats the one I can just fill and go then.
SistersofPercy said:
SistersofPercy said:
So the hole is supposed to be there? Wont the water just flood in? (told you this was idiot territory!)
Other than that hole its sound from what I can see, just needs a good clean.
Rowlocks are £8 on Amazon and I'll need a set of oars as well.
Can I paint it? If so what with?
Edit, oh that hole! I'm guessing thats mast then. I don't think I'll need that on my little pond lolOther than that hole its sound from what I can see, just needs a good clean.
Rowlocks are £8 on Amazon and I'll need a set of oars as well.
Can I paint it? If so what with?
Paint available in many colours (rainbow?) from B&Q for 'outdoor' wood/plastic so lot's of choices.
Photos when done and ready for launch, pls!
pequod said:
Yep, that hole, but as you say you won't need it except for holding the essential rehydration fluid.
Paint available in many colours (rainbow?) from B&Q for 'outdoor' wood/plastic so lot's of choices.
Photos when done and ready for launch, pls!
Ive done some research into tillers etc so I half know what’s going on haha Paint available in many colours (rainbow?) from B&Q for 'outdoor' wood/plastic so lot's of choices.
Photos when done and ready for launch, pls!
Ill get some of the gorilla stuff ordered and head to b&q at the weekend. I have some danish oil for the wood so hopefully will come up nicely.
I confess this is the second boat I bought. The first the repair was beyond me completely so I filled it with plants and named it Orion (huge Metallica fan). This one will be St Angler I think to keep with the theme.
I'm puzzled by that slot in the bilge - normally you would have a casing coming up to the same level as the "seat" in which a centreboard would sit and slide up and down but stop water getting the wrong side of the boat. Never seen that sort of arrangement before in this kind of boat - looks more like a windsurfer daggerboard slot, or do racing type dinghies (which this appears not to be ..........) all have these self-sealing slots?
Re painting, if you plan on putting it on the pond I would ensure whatever you use is not going to be harmful to aquatic wildlife.
Re painting, if you plan on putting it on the pond I would ensure whatever you use is not going to be harmful to aquatic wildlife.
SistersofPercy said:
Ive done some research into tillers etc so I half know what’s going on haha
Ill get some of the gorilla stuff ordered and head to b&q at the weekend. I have some danish oil for the wood so hopefully will come up nicely.
I confess this is the second boat I bought. The first the repair was beyond me completely so I filled it with plants and named it Orion (huge Metallica fan). This one will be St Angler I think to keep with the theme.
That planter is a thing of beauty and if the planned voyage on the pond doesn't work out, then another planter would be the best, and very pleasing, reuse of your new acquisition. Just drill through the Gorilla filla for drainage and name it Aries (biased!) to keep the constellation theme going!!Ill get some of the gorilla stuff ordered and head to b&q at the weekend. I have some danish oil for the wood so hopefully will come up nicely.
I confess this is the second boat I bought. The first the repair was beyond me completely so I filled it with plants and named it Orion (huge Metallica fan). This one will be St Angler I think to keep with the theme.
P
s2kjock said:
I'm puzzled by that slot in the bilge - normally you would have a casing coming up to the same level as the "seat" in which a centreboard would sit and slide up and down but stop water getting the wrong side of the boat. Never seen that sort of arrangement before in this kind of boat - looks more like a windsurfer daggerboard slot, or do racing type dinghies (which this appears not to be ..........) all have these self-sealing slots?
It had a centreboard box at one point, which is no longer there; from what I recall of the previous thread by the OP the advice was to buy a boat that did not need anything doing to it, advice which still stands.Unless you have resin and glass cloth in your shed and know what you're doing with it just buy a boat that floats.
hidetheelephants said:
It had a centreboard box at one point, which is no longer there; from what I recall of the previous thread by the OP the advice was to buy a boat that did not need anything doing to it, advice which still stands.
Unless you have resin and glass cloth in your shed and know what you're doing with it just buy a boat that floats.
Unfortunately buying a boat that floats is not cheap, and living about as far inland as you can get boats are not easy to drop on, especially with no access to a trailer or a van to collect one.Unless you have resin and glass cloth in your shed and know what you're doing with it just buy a boat that floats.
It was fifty quid and my previous boat given to me so I'll give it a go with some fibreglass repair and some gorilla filler, if it fails it will be welcomed as another planter.
Be fine, whats the worse that can happen?
With the caveat of please wear a lifejacket on your boat when afloat, here's what I would do if I didn't overly care about doing things the 'right' way;
1. put some gaffer tape over the slot on the inside.
2. turn the mighty craft upside down.
3. squirt some aerosol foam in the slot and allow to set.
4. cut the foam flush with the bottom of the boat.
5. thoroughly abrade the area around the slot(ooh err) with coarse grade abrasive (120 grit or so).
6. clean the abraded area with a volatile solvent( preferably acetone but meths or brake/carburettor cleaner would do).
7. splodge some David's P40 or similar polyester bog with chopped bits of glassfibre in liberally on the abraded area and the trimmed foam, working it into the foam with a brush or a gloved hand.
8. attempt but fail to get a smooth finish.
9. have a beer or beverage of choice while the witches brew of evil sets.
10. chuck it in and see if it leaks.
1. put some gaffer tape over the slot on the inside.
2. turn the mighty craft upside down.
3. squirt some aerosol foam in the slot and allow to set.
4. cut the foam flush with the bottom of the boat.
5. thoroughly abrade the area around the slot(ooh err) with coarse grade abrasive (120 grit or so).
6. clean the abraded area with a volatile solvent( preferably acetone but meths or brake/carburettor cleaner would do).
7. splodge some David's P40 or similar polyester bog with chopped bits of glassfibre in liberally on the abraded area and the trimmed foam, working it into the foam with a brush or a gloved hand.
8. attempt but fail to get a smooth finish.
9. have a beer or beverage of choice while the witches brew of evil sets.
10. chuck it in and see if it leaks.
hidetheelephants said:
With the caveat of please wear a lifejacket on your boat when afloat, here's what I would do if I didn't overly care about doing things the 'right' way;
1. put some gaffer tape over the slot on the inside.
2. turn the mighty craft upside down.
3. squirt some aerosol foam in the slot and allow to set.
4. cut the foam flush with the bottom of the boat.
5. thoroughly abrade the area around the slot(ooh err) with coarse grade abrasive (120 grit or so).
6. clean the abraded area with a volatile solvent( preferably acetone but meths or brake/carburettor cleaner would do).
7. splodge some David's P40 or similar polyester bog with chopped bits of glassfibre in liberally on the abraded area and the trimmed foam, working it into the foam with a brush or a gloved hand.
8. attempt but fail to get a smooth finish.
9. have a beer or beverage of choice while the witches brew of evil sets.
10. chuck it in and see if it leaks.
Sounds the perfect plan that. 1. put some gaffer tape over the slot on the inside.
2. turn the mighty craft upside down.
3. squirt some aerosol foam in the slot and allow to set.
4. cut the foam flush with the bottom of the boat.
5. thoroughly abrade the area around the slot(ooh err) with coarse grade abrasive (120 grit or so).
6. clean the abraded area with a volatile solvent( preferably acetone but meths or brake/carburettor cleaner would do).
7. splodge some David's P40 or similar polyester bog with chopped bits of glassfibre in liberally on the abraded area and the trimmed foam, working it into the foam with a brush or a gloved hand.
8. attempt but fail to get a smooth finish.
9. have a beer or beverage of choice while the witches brew of evil sets.
10. chuck it in and see if it leaks.
Life jacket noted, unsure of pond depth as we can't get to the middle. Previous owner quoted 40ft, I call custard on that personally. Pays to be safe though, the bits I've been in with waders on were very silty so it is respected as potentially dangerous
Hopefully got some bits coming for the weekend so we'll see how it goes. Thanks!
'Leak & Destroy' officially floats.
Lots of gorilla filler, lots of resin, loads of fibreglass, lots of cursing, copious amounts of plasticote and several rows with the other half and she seems to be good to go. Not the tidiest job by a long chalk, but we were never going for perfection, more 'patch her up and use her'.
No leaks that we've seen so far, though last nights storm didn't help so she had a fair amount of water in her this morning.
Much argument on the name, he wanted Sea Señor, I pointed out it was a pond, and as I had one Metallica themed boat the next needed to be the same. If we get another (for planting purposes) it will be St Angler.
Lots of gorilla filler, lots of resin, loads of fibreglass, lots of cursing, copious amounts of plasticote and several rows with the other half and she seems to be good to go. Not the tidiest job by a long chalk, but we were never going for perfection, more 'patch her up and use her'.
No leaks that we've seen so far, though last nights storm didn't help so she had a fair amount of water in her this morning.
Much argument on the name, he wanted Sea Señor, I pointed out it was a pond, and as I had one Metallica themed boat the next needed to be the same. If we get another (for planting purposes) it will be St Angler.
pequod said:
Thanks for the update, vessel looks very good and 'sea' worthy!
Hope you did the right thing and cracked a bottle of fizz on her bows? Bad form and potentially bad karma not to when renaming any floaty-boaty!!
Enjoy.
I opened a red bull in celebration, close enough Hope you did the right thing and cracked a bottle of fizz on her bows? Bad form and potentially bad karma not to when renaming any floaty-boaty!!
Enjoy.
Ordered new rowlocks and a cover for it. Now planning halloween and floating it out with pumpkins (battery candles obviously!)
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