patching 1/4in holes in the hull worth paying $700.

[Bluviper7]

I just bought a 1974 ranger for $700. The motor is good and running. What is the pricing range for patching 1/4in holes on the bottom hull?

 

[Redtruck12]

Pictures will definitely help
made some and help will come

 

[sphelps]

You could probably just use some marinetex patch or epoxy filler patch with 10 mins of your time....
With as old as the boat is you probably have other issues as well ...

 

[Bluviper7]

Okay ill take some pictures and post them. Thanks guys.

 

[Bluviper7]

Here are the images of my bottom and side hull holes.

 

[Bluviper7]

I fill that big hole and scratches today with Bono filler and sand with 80 & 40 grit. Let me know what yall think. thanks! I still have to finish the sides. Should I put some fiberglass over that bondo. Should i remove the old fiberglass that has small holes in them?

 

[Redtruck12]

Oh boy
Bondo????? auto body filler?
i had made a suggestion to post some pictures AND get some proper advice.
this is a very old Fiberglass boat right?
first picture looks like a hole thru to foam wet foam, stained foam leeching brown from rotten structure maybe? , am I right?
auto body filler definitely is not suitable for structure repair on anything -especially NOT a boat!

 

[matt167]

yup. that's no bueno and obviously a rotted boat ( a 1974 fiberglass boat has a 90% chance of being rotted if not restored, and 100% chance if it's got holes )

Bondo is a polyester resin that is thickened with TALC. Talc does what everyone knows it does, and absorbs water. It's baby powder

 

[Redtruck12]

So now that have posted a couple pictures. Are you interested in some sound advice?
are you up to a restoration and a safe boat or do you like swimming

 

[Bluviper7]

okay, how do I fix this? Is it worth fixing$$$? oH No! Im very Sad now!

 

[Bluviper7]

Not even the fiberglass filler for boats?
Thats the one I used.

 

[matt167]

You said bondo, which is pink talc based filler. Bondo does make a marine fairing compound I'm pretty sure, but that is not for holes. fairing compound does the same thing to a boat as bondo does to a vehicle..

Lot of cheap fishermen will patch the holes from the outside. You have to scuff the gelcoat back to glass, and fiberglass a patch of 1708 biaxial cloth in a couple layers in with poly resin. That is still the wrong way to do it.. Correctly you need to gut the boat, and the patch gets put in from both sides. 2 layers of 1708 each. But it's still obviously rotted.. If you bought a $700 boat and it's only worth $700 to you, then no it's not worth it

 

[sphelps]

First thing you should do is check the transom and stringers . Unless your really lucky buying a 700 $ boat it’s gunna have issues usually . Ok say you spend 1500$ on an old boat . Your chances are about the same that it will have the same issues as the cheaper boat . Now if you really like the boat and it serves your needs then it may be worth the effort and little more expense to rehab it correctly and use for many years knowing it’s seaworthy .
If your not up to the task of a rebuild then you could try and sell it and then maybe find an aluminum boat that won’t require quite as much rehab ..

 

[Scott Danforth]

that keel and bottom damage is beyond a simple fairing and gel fix.

that is into a full gut and restore

that will have to be fixed from both the inside and the outside, first by removing all the wet foam and rotten wood, then proper use of CSM, 1708, etc.

generally if its a fiberglass boat older than 15 years or under $10k it will have issues.

 

[kcassells]

Bondo NO good for under water line. Sorry. Pic it out.

 

[hogbare35]

Bluviper
Bondo is a brand name and they do make a fiberglass filler for use on boats. Not very easy to sand but works real good.
John

 

[Redtruck12]

It may be made for boats But NOT for structural damage repair

 

[Bluviper7]

Hey Redtruck,
Water was leaking from that hole before I filled it with that bondo fiberglass filler. Hopefully the gut repair will be included. I'M A FIRST TIME BOAT OWNER, SORRY FOR THE QUESTION. MY FIRST RES PONDER SALARY IS NOT THE BEST SO I HAVE TO WEIGH OUT MY OPTIONS.I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK GUYS! I LOVE FISHING! HOPEFULLY ILL BE CERTIFIED TO DIVE WITH OUR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT RESCUE SQUAD SOON! GOBLUE!

 

[Scott Danforth]

WHY ARE YOU YELLING?

if youre a first responder, then you know your life is in the hands of your equipment.

your life is counting on this boat

fix it correctly, as your life isnt worth being cheap about it.

 

[Redtruck12]

I think he was just typing LOUDLY for us older members- not yelling
ya bluviper we all started where you are.
my first “real” boat too and I was where you are a year and a half or so ago.
you will learn a ton from Guys on here (I know I did and still have lots to learn)
do it right, learning along the way.
lots of helpful experienced members on here to guide you through it all.