Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

[Stillcrazy]

I had a mystery leak on the Chaparral. took on 6 gallons of water in 1 1/2 hours. Checked all thru hulls etc. but that's another story. Found that when it got that bad that I could not find the leak because it was on the lower lifting strake and was hidden while sitting on the bunks. Repositioning the bunks revealed the damage. There were voids and dry, resin free, glass behind the Gelcoat. somewhat like an eggshell. Once I opened it up I found that the 28" was in the same condition. Now the problem.
The stringer sits right on top of the strake. I cannot gain access to repair it from the inside. To complicate things, it is a "Girley" boat. Very pretty ! and the Head is right over the repair area. It is a one piece cast and set in place at build unit.
Even if i cut a hole in the head , how can I repair UNDER the stringer?

later when dry glass and void removed. Picture

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Looks bad enough to require an inside and outside repair repair. I'm not the guy to explain how, but others here should pipe in on best way to fix it right. My guess is you will need to gain inside access, and that may reveal more damage depending how long it's been letting moisture in. May be able to just remove a small section of the stringer and make glass repairs, then sister in the stinger, and seal her back up.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Try to determine if its just a Void between the "skin coat" of glass ( sounds to me that it is ). Basically if its just the gelcoat and the first layer or two of mat that has a void between it and the Main glassing part of the hull.

If so then you can repair this from the outside only.

YD.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

That first pic looks like a "Hole" to me. Is the Stringer right behind that hole? is it solid all around that damaged area?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

That first pic looks like a "Hole" to me. Is the Stringer right behind that hole? is it solid all around that damaged area?

It may Look like a "Hole" but its just not enough glass IMO. It Looks like the gel and skin coat had Voids between the main layup of the hull. But Thats why I asked to investigate if this is the Main lams of the hull or just the skin lams.

Again .. if its just skin Mat that we are seeing then it should be fine to repair this on the Outside alone.

YD.

 

[Stillcrazy]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

View attachment 195352
The "bad glass" extends beyond the skin coat. I can see the stringer wood. There is no question that I woulld like to repair it from the inside and outside but because it is right alongside and under the stringer. it presents a problem.View attachment 195353
This is my best guess of the crossection. I can cut an access hole in the head and install a deck plate above the damaged area, but that still doesn't allow me to get under the stringer. Cutting out a chunk 12 to 28" on the bottom side doesn't sound good either.The Typical inside out repairs won't work using string or wire to fish a plate for backup.
The stringer has been dried out. Now another question. If the stringer was coated with epoxy, would it take the place of an "Inside" backup and then repair from the outside ? Has anyone done this repair ?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Soooo... Could you fill the hole with Hairy Peanut Butter and would the Stringer act as a backer so when the PB hardened it would be solid?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Soooo... Could you fill the hole with Hairy Peanut Butter and would the Stringer act as a backer so when the PB hardened it would be solid?

I think thats what he is suggesting ..

What do you recommend ? You didnt say for sure one way or another ..

YD.

PS. It depends on the tabbing of the stringer ..

 

[Stillcrazy]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

I requested Tech help from Chaparral on April 24. Gave them all forms of ways to contact me. A week ago their Forum asked for the info again so that they would have someone get in touch. I get the feeling that I am being stiffed. Just wanted info on their layup and config.
I worked for three boat builders in the 90's, so I saw the layups. The stringer is exposed on one side inside the center "Ski locker" storage. Someone must have run into this on a sail boat .

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Your last 2 pics did not post.

 

[Stillcrazy]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Don't know what happened to them. They were there after posting but I noticed that they were gone the next time I looked ??

 

[Stillcrazy]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

http://[URL=http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/stillcrazy36/media/sketchofstrakestringer_zpsdea97dfa.jpg.html] [/URL]

 

[Stillcrazy]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Detail missing is that there is a layer of glass on stringer base before you hit the wood and the 16" number was actually 16 7/8" by fuzzy math . I have to get back out for better numbers.A test hole drilled just above the "Damage" arrow came out 1" above the Ski storage floor. About where the "G" in glass is.

 

[Stillcrazy]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

. Boston Whaler has a great site with lots of good info on lots of subjects. They also were not afraid to post info on how to repair their boats and hull with holes in them... .

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

You can still repair it from just the outside.

Glass it clear into the stringer and build the area back up, glass an area that is large enough for there to be a good bond, grind off whatever amount of strake and surrounding hull you need to (large tapered area), it will be built back up. After glassing it won't be pretty, but just grind off everything that doesn't look like a boat (boat strake actually). It will take a while, but you'll get there.

You can use polyester, VE would be better, and epoxy the best, but with epoxy the gel coat may not bond well, so paint may be needed, the match may not that good though.

 

[Stillcrazy]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Opened up the hole to get rid of more bad glass and I am coming to the conclusion that the strake was filled with poorly fitted wood. It was not the stringer wood that I saw. The stringer does sit correctly at the far right position of the sketch, but is not that thick.
Boston Whaler gives a detailed plan for fixing their boats, which are foam filled. I am undercutting the back side all around the repair and will fill it with glass, then glass the outside. This should simulate a inside/outside repair. I feel more comfortable with this approach.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Opened up the hole to get rid of more bad glass and I am coming to the conclusion that the strake was filled with poorly fitted wood. It was not the stringer wood that I saw. The stringer does sit correctly at the far right position of the sketch, but is not that thick.
Boston Whaler gives a detailed plan for fixing their boats, which are foam filled. I am undercutting the back side all around the repair and will fill it with glass, then glass the outside. This should simulate a inside/outside repair. I feel more comfortable with this approach.

I think that I understand what you are going to do .. and you should be fine with this.

Just dont grind out too much of the inside lams for your 'undercut' ..

YD.

 

[Stillcrazy]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Actually I am cleaning out mostly the garbage behind the lam all around , no undercutting of the glass. Takes three different tools to accomplish. The remaining wood in the strake will act as a "backup" . If it wasn't there it would be hard to make the glass stay put. That's why open holes use the string or wire and plate as backup.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral

Normally when they put a filler of some type in a strake they glass it in completely and even if it wears through no water enters the bilge. But...these things can get overlooked at times and there could be a gap somewhere.

This should work well.

 

[Stillcrazy]

Re: Leaky strake on 2004 Chaparral