my 1st boat !

[Lund_bC]

I think this is a 60's speed boat, i don't see a brand name anywhere, anyone have any info about this ?

I wonder if this old of a boat has a floatation device in case of swamping ?

This the first boat I have ever owned, so I bought this for $600 it is about 14 ft and has a 40 hp johnson on it. The motor runs good, the boat is pretty beat up but i love it, but with i would have at least looked under before i bought it.

So I am hoping to get a bit of time out of this boat, it has so many small holes and warn out spots from beaching, I have been fixing them while on trailer buy slopping on quick and dirty fiberglass, epoxy and stuff like that, I am just patching stuff up to try to stop the leaks while i try to enjoy a bit of fishing for this summer and fall, and maybe this winter i will figure out if i should fix this or not.

It kind of seems like this boat is swiss cheeze, there is bits of bondo like stuff here and there, screw holes here and there, knicks and scrapes everywhere, I was just told it leaks a bit.

I don't think the transdon is rotten but some of the wood is swollen up top, what else should i start
looking for to decide if it is worth fixing?

Does this seem like a silly boat to fix up ? i like the size because i can pull in up on the beach and on a small trailer, it will be used in salt water north of Vancouver, only on nice days though.

 

[Lund_bC]

poorly put on fiberglass repairs

poorly put on fiberglass repairs

So I have a new boat, and there is a a couple of places where it looks likes someone took fiberglass cloth and patched up some damaged areas but left the cloth kind of overlap right over the gel coat, its on there really sloppy and unsanded.

I will do some fiberglassing this winter but looking at the patches I am wondering if there is danger of a poor patch just coming lose all at once and maybe springing a serious leak in the boat ?

Also should i just sand the fiberglass patches down flush with the gel coat or should i remove all the poor work ?

I just want a boat that floats at present.

 

[Lund_bC]

Use a small blow up boat for floatation for no foam boat.

Use a small blow up boat for floatation for no foam boat.

So i have a blow up boat that is suitable for two adults, so its kind of beefy. My old 60's speed boat seems to have no floatation foam, and as the hull has so many quick fix repairs and I want to use it for a bit this year, I was thinking of putting the blow up boat half filled up under the bow area, I think that would allow my 15 ft boat and two adults to float for a while, better yet we could try to finish blowing up the blow up boat as a lifeboat if we were sinking slowly I guess.

What do you guys think of that idea ?

Thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Use a small blow up boat for floatation for no foam boat.

Re: Use a small blow up boat for floatation for no foam boat.

Not a good idea.

Use insulation sheets from a hardware store , pool noodles, or regular 2 part foam. Some people had enough space to use old bleach bottles and old plastic bottles but, if the boat breaks apart it will sink.

Using an inflatable is not a good idea.

I merged all of your posts .....no need to start a new thread with every question about one boat.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

So I have a new boat, and there is a a couple of places where it looks likes someone took fiberglass cloth and patched up some damaged areas but left the cloth kind of overlap right over the gel coat, its on there really sloppy and unsanded.

I will do some fiberglassing this winter but looking at the patches I am wondering if there is danger of a poor patch just coming lose all at once and maybe springing a serious leak in the boat ?

Also should i just sand the fiberglass patches down flush with the gel coat or should i remove all the poor work ?

I just want a boat that floats at present.

Remove it all and do it right or you run the risk of failure of the repair.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Be certain to take a boating safety course since this is your first boat.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Your "new to you" first boat looks like an older Lone Star, with newer outboard on her. Very simple and easy boat to learn with, but making her safe and sound before you take her out should be a top priority. I bet some close up pictures about the holes you speak of will get you some more replies.

 

[sevanseriesta]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Welcome, and congrats, I can't answer many your of your questions, I can tell you that everyone here is awesome. I am not to the glassing on my boat yet, still in the tear down process.

 

[louiefl]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Marine tex is pretty easty to work with and will fill in holes and low spots - you can apply it with a plastic applicator similar to what is used for Bondo. It should take care of any small problem areas on theoutside of the hull. If you are taking on water in other places (easiest way to find them is to put water in the bilge while on a trailer and see where it leaks out) you really need to find them and fix them. Could have water coming in through the bilge drain plug, or the engine bolts through the transom.

I'm not going to preach about it not being safe with potential rotten hull, stringers, transom as this is an old boat and there are likely going to be some problem areas. Realistically, if you are putting around on calm days, I wouldn't think the boat will split in half and sink. Not likely going to have floatation foam as I don't think it was mandated back then. Keep your cell phone in a ziplock in case the whole mess sinks - at least you won't lose your phone. Take a boating class and go have some fun before the weather gets too cold.

 

[Lund_bC]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Marine Tex egh, will look into that.

I was going to put a inflatable life raft on the boat incase it sinks, it will either be half blown up under the bow, so the boat would float for a while, or i will be pumping the boat the rest of the way up and will have a life boat i guess. Anyways, I used it when I get to the beach and to cross a could of small rivers so its no trouble.

I think this boat was well taken care of but just used up, mostly on a trailer in fresh water, so thats good.

I am still trying to identify this exact boat so i can see if there if float foam in there, i think there is a the posters i seen said the boats from the 60's of this suggest make do.

We will see, in the meantime i will have extra pfds, a lifeboat, a electric billage pump, a hand pump, and some bailers, I might even be saving some of you guys !

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

It would seem that you are proceeding against sound advice:

Remove it all and do it right or you run the risk of failure of the repair.

Not a good idea. Use insulation sheets from a hardware store , pool noodles, or regular 2 part foam. Some people had enough space to use old bleach bottles and old plastic bottles but, if the boat breaks apart it will sink.

Using an inflatable is not a good idea.

If you choose to continue to use this boat:

I wonder if this old of a boat has a floatation device in case of swamping? The motor runs good, the boat is pretty beat up but i love it, but with i would have at least looked under before i bought it.

So I am hoping to get a bit of time out of this boat, it has so many small holes and warn out spots from beaching, I have been fixing them while on trailer buy slopping on quick and dirty fiberglass, epoxy and stuff like that, I am just patching stuff up to try to stop the leaks while i try to enjoy a bit of fishing for this summer and fall, and maybe this winter i will figure out if i should fix this or not.

It kind of seems like this boat is swiss cheeze, there is bits of bondo like stuff here and there, screw holes here and there, knicks and scrapes everywhere, I was just told it leaks a bit. I don't think the transdon is rotten but some of the wood is swollen up top, what else should i start looking for to decide if it is worth fixing?

Does this seem like a silly boat to fix up?

None of this seem silly, except to continue using it in it's current state of disrepair. An unexpected wave or wake that induces unusual flex in the hull could cause poor repairs that you're slapped a down & dirty glass repair on, to fail. And you're using this swiss cheese hole riddled hull in the ocean? Not with any of my friends & family on board, no matter how many life jackets & flotation devices you carry.

This incident occurred on a more then sound hull, with factory installed 'upright & level' flotation foam, with more then 1 seasoned boater aboard, with operational bilge pumps and life jackets/vest available. The author ended up in the water depending on a cooler for HOURS while awaiting rescue. Although it was not ideal, calm conditions, it took them all by surprise, and it took no time at all for it to go extremely badly, against the expectations of those involved & their years of boating experience.

If you post some pix of the areas you've repaired, that were repaired or that you think may be the cause of the leak, you will likely get more advice. If the damage is less significant then it sounds, maybe you can use it & patch as you go, but until then, I whole heartedly agree w/ Bob, fix it right. Then you & your passengers will know your vessel is safe.

If budget concerns are at all influencing your methods or waiting to make more permanent & safe repairs, just say so. If there are lower cost alternatives to full fiberglass repair, someone will make those suggestions.

Unsafe at any speed was a book that included a chapter about an unsafe car that still has loyal fans.... Someone @ iboats should write a similar book. When poor condition boats or poor repair work goes badly, it's not like when your car malfunctions. Your car isn't floating in the OCEAN :facepalm: Extremely bad stuff happens quickly. And that's a cost no one should risk having to pay.

In my 1960 FireFlite there was originally NO flotation foam. It will get every cubic inch I can jam into it. Same for the tin boats! Safety & flotation are not something I want to be wondering if I could have done more to make it safer or added more flotation foam. Because the only time that will occur is when I am relying on it because something, somewhere has gone wrong.

Boat safe


If that link to the boat sinking doesn't click thru, google:

Mull BLOG Stupid Adrift and Thanking God for a Coleman Cooler

 

[emoney]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

I'm sure you've heard the "2 happiest days of a boat owner's life" analogies....everyone has (even though I, for one, really dislike that one). But, here's one that's much more important: "The HARDEST thing for a boat owner to do is to NOT go out on a beautiful day because his boat just isn't ready".

I think a LOT of us have been there before, that exact spot where you are now. And we understand, it's tough; you've got your very 1st boat sitting in the driveway and all your friends are heading to the water/urging you to do the same. But, I can guarantee you of one thing in life - not 1 single person that drowned from a boating issue EVER thought that they would be "that guy". Fate already deals some of us some pretty tough road blocks, so there's no sense in daring it mess up our lives. Pull the boat out....put it on the trailer...take as many pictures of areas of concern as you're capable of......post those pics right here in this thread and then wait. You will get a real consensus as to a direction to take.

The hard part will be following that advice if it doesn't agree with you. Good luck and above all, be safe.

 

[Lund_bC]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs



So here is some more pics of my new little boat.

So I have found the stringers i can reach in the back by the drain plug to be wet, I can't find any rot yet on the ones I can reach and it is easy to tell someone has rebuilt this boat at one point, but not sure if they put the foam in or not so I will have to have a look.

I also notice the fiberglass on the inside by the transom is delaming about 1 sq foot because of the wood on the transom is wet, I am, it doesn't seem rotten so far but I will keep looking to see if it is. I don't think wet means rot automatic, but we will see.

I pulled a bit of fiberglass back near the drain plug from the inside and I do notice a small gap between the transom and the bottom fiberglass, it seems like a clean cut but not sure. Is that how they are built ?

Will keep looking into this beast, I hope it is worth fixing up.

THanks

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

thats a pretty cool looking setup....with the layout of the boat and the size...it would not be $$ hungry to gut it and rebuild it.
As far if it's "worth it" to restore....depends on your definition of "worth".....would you be able to sell it when your done and make a profit...unlikely....will you have a solid and safe boat to use...most likely

 

[Leap of Faith]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

It would seem that you are proceeding against sound advice:

........

This incident occurred on ........

This hits close to home... literally! South Haven is the channel we normally head out on to Lake Michgan. It definately will get me to think about some of the details when we head out on the water next time.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Based on your written descriptions of glass delamination and wet stringers and transom, it is my humble opinion and advice that you do an intensive and thorough inspection of the stringers and transom before venturing out on the water. Core Samples of both the stringers and the transom are in ordder. While you are correct that wet does not mean rot, the delamination does mean the strutural strength has been compromised and it must be addressed. The modern 40 hp motor is much heavier than the orignal 40 hp motors. Since she is only a 14ft craft, I'd suspect she's only rated for around 25 to 30hp so she is over powered. This could be the cause of the delamination on the transom. Safety is #1 here on the Forum and you should take all precautions with your boat.

 

[emoney]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Tons of threads in this forum that show you how to take core samples by drilling into the transom and the stringers so read up on them and then verify for yourself what needs doing. Someone before you truly cared about that boat so you may as well continue. I think it's cool they had a kicker on it and that often means they built up the transom. Plus, those docking lights on the front are pretty cool too. However, what area is that 1st picture? Meaning, is that from inside the boat or from underneath? More details need to be shared as that could develop into one of those "uh-oh" things. If that's a repair to the keel and the pic is from the outside, you need to take pics of the same spot on the inside (or visa versa).

If you "love" the boat, then by all means have at it. But just prepare yourself not to use it until you've made it safe.

 

[Lund_bC]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Since she is only a 14ft craft, I'd suspect she's only rated for around 25 to 30hp so she is over powered. This could be the cause of the delamination on the transom. Safety is #1 here on the Forum and you should take all precautions with your boat.

Thanks for the replies everyone !

I think the delam on the transom is because of a leaking drain plug, not the plug itself but the hole, it's pretty clear it was leaking around it and the delam is just around it and nowhere near the motor bolts, but who knows, I will have to see. Yes I think I will cut out a few areas of the floor to see what is going on under the floor, if I am lucky someone already put some floatation under there and it is not rotten, but I will have to have a look.

I think there was lots of love shown to this boat, it has new wiring, all the lights work, the motor is very well maintained .. all that but I think as it is so old it is just warn out from beaching and some wear and tear of hitting things, I wouldn't find it worth it to repair a rotten tranform and stringers, but i would find it worth it to rip up the floor and put floatation and do various repairs to the hull. The reason is there is an abundance of motorless boats in my area that go for almost nothing or very cheap.

I take safety very seriously, so I am very clear about not using this boat for much more than checking for leaks at the moment. I am glad I enjoyed some nice cruises when I got it without knowing much as I wouldn't have been able to knowing things like this, but now that I understand more I have to be sure this boat is safe and sound before I will be able to enjoy it again.

 

[Lund_bC]

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

Re: poorly put on fiberglass repairs

However, what area is that 1st picture? Meaning, is that from inside the boat or from underneath? More details need to be shared as that could develop into one of those "uh-oh" things. If that's a repair to the keel and the pic is from the outside, you need to take pics of the same spot on the inside (or visa versa).

If you "love" the boat, then by all means have at it. But just prepare yourself not to use it until you've made it safe.

The picture is a a repair on the outside bottom right where it becomes the side of the boat, I think someone hit something, so I did a fiberglass repair, lots of mat and many coat trying to build it back up there to its shape, If I sand it now it might look cleaner and more solid, but that is just one spot on the boat, I would have to rip out the floor to see the inside of it.