Wet core is a recipe for problems, but repairing the problem is often not as hard as you may think
- Start by removing all fittings in the area to be repaired and determine how you want to attack the project. ...
- Determine the area of the damage to be repaired and mask off and protect as much of the surrounding area as possible. ...
- Using a small oscillating saw, cut the fiber-reinforced plastic skin and remove it. ...
Full Answer
How much does it cost to dry out a cored boat?
Traditional methods for dealing with wet core, including cutting, chiseling, replacing and reglassing, can also cost $40,000 to $50,000 or more. Not to mention the destructive damage such measures incur. Ugh! Enter Dryboat. This Michigan-based moisture-remediation firm offers a mobile, nondestructive system to dry out cored fiberglass boats.
How do you dry out a cored fiberglass boat?
Enter Dryboat. This Michigan-based moisture-remediation firm offers a mobile, nondestructive system to dry out cored fiberglass boats. According to company president Scott Richmond and developer Jon Bartnick, the process restores the affected areas to moisture levels acceptable by the builder.
How do I maintain the core of my Boat?
Pull through-hull fittings, engine mounting bolts and other penetrations on a periodic basis in order to inspect the core and make sure water is not getting in. Reseal fittings and fixtures regularly.
How much does it cost to replace wet core?
Traditional methods for dealing with wet core, including cutting, chiseling, replacing and reglassing, can also cost $40,000 to $50,000 or more. Not to mention the destructive damage such measures incur.
Can glue injection fix rotten core?
Not perfect, but it may work for just a few holes. It is easy. If the core was plywood or balsa, there is still some rot in progress and you'll be back in a few years. If the core was foam and the damaged area is small, maybe you're done.
Can you dry out a boat hull?
There's no way of forcing the water out - you have to let it dry by opening enough holes into the foam that the water can evaporate. Some holes should be at the lowest point possible so any liquid can drain. Other holes need to be high, so they serve as vents.
How do I fix my balsa core?
2:1831:26How To Deal With Wet Balsa Core Below the Waterline Part 1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe skin away from the balsa core you need a hammer to drive it and very quickly I decided that thatMoreThe skin away from the balsa core you need a hammer to drive it and very quickly I decided that that was entirely too much work and too slow.
How do you repair a delaminated fiberglass hull?
Follow the steps below to return your surface to its former strength.Identify the delaminated area. ... Make sure the core is dry. ... Mix epoxy. ... Inject epoxy. ... Allow the epoxy to cure. ... Replace damaged laminate.
How do you dry out a wet boat?
Re: Drying out a wet boat.. Raise the trailer jack as high as possible. Place a small electric box fan over the compartment, and turn on the fan. Move the fan to each compartment. Leave compartments empty and open until ready to fish again.
How do you get water out of hull?
0:241:27How to Siphon Water From a Boat Hull - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe exit end is gonna be below where the top of the water is and the water will actually flow. AndMoreThe exit end is gonna be below where the top of the water is and the water will actually flow. And it's all once you get it going so just put that hose in suck up a little. Bit.
What is a balsa core?
CORE / BALSA BALTEK® SB is a core material produced from select kiln-dried balsa wood in the 'end-grain' configuration. It has extremely high strength and stiffness to weight ratios, and achieves an excellent bond with all types of resins and adhesives.
How do you're core a boat?
4:095:52SAIL Epoxy Basics: Replacing Wet Core in a Fiberglass Boat - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then from here we're going to step back up in the boat. And apply it. And actually have twoMoreAnd then from here we're going to step back up in the boat. And apply it. And actually have two layers of glass on here I've got a larger. Area that you saw me kind of coating out outside of the boat.
How do you Recore a boat deck?
0:068:40Deck Repairs Part 2: Replacing the Core - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first step in the process is to use a permanent marker. And straightedge to mark the outline ofMoreThe first step in the process is to use a permanent marker. And straightedge to mark the outline of the area to be cut.
What does delamination mean on a boat?
Delamination occurs when the middle wood breaks down or pulls away from the surrounding fiberglass substrate. Delamination usually occurs due to water pooling in the hull's bilge for a prolonged period.
Can a fiberglass boat hull be repaired?
However, the repairability of fiberglass is one of its best characteristics. The most horrifying hole in a fiberglass hull is quickly healed with a bit of glass fabric, a supply of resin, and equal parts skill and care. And the repair is less patch than graft — a new piece of skin indistinguishable from the old.
What causes fiberglass to deteriorate?
Repetitive waves, engine vibrations, and other activities can cause strain on the fiberglass. After a certain amount of time, fiberglass can also get worn down. Without proper care, the fiberglass can become weak and brittle.
How do you get water out of fiberglass?
Drill just through the first layer of fiberglass and into the laminates. Do not drill all the way through. I suggest using a battery-powered drill to avoid any problems should water come squirting out while you're using a 120-volt drill.
How do you check for moisture in a boat hull?
0:0011:07Wren Moisture Test, Hull - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's green yellow or red dry dry dry dry dry these are all low dries by the way dry dry dry theseMoreIt's green yellow or red dry dry dry dry dry these are all low dries by the way dry dry dry these are all dry I'll change. If I find something that's not dry I'll mention it.
How do I stop condensation in my fiberglass boat?
Reducing condensation on your boatUsing a pressure cooker can help reduce steam while cooking.Leaving fabric items to dry covered on deck keeps the moisture out. ... Insulation needs care as you may make moisture problems worse.More items...•
Can a fiberglass boat get waterlogged?
Indeed, fiberglass cannot absorb water and become waterlogged, however, suppose the fiberglass structure is compromised (even a missing screw). In that case, water will enter the hull, and it will become waterlogged, which will damage the flotation foam and the wooden structural components.
What happens if a boat is blocked up?
If the boat is blocked up properly, the local area (s) where either the inner or outer skin needs to be removed will remain undistorted. This assumes the supports, stands or whatever they're using to block the boat aren't near these affected areas.
Can you repair a boat in sections?
You can do the repair in sections. That way there is no need to support the whole boat. The outer skin shouldn't buckle if the rest of the boat is well supported.
How to remove core from through fitting?
You will be able to remove the core for about 6” around a through fitting. To do this, you can make a routing tool from a flexible screwdriver extension attachment made by Vermont. Use a cutting wheel on a Dremmel to cut teeth in the end of the Vermont screwdriver attachment that normally holds the screwdriver bit. Then put the flexible screwdriver attachment into an electric drill and route out the core sliver by sliver.
Why do headliners have wet cores?
But if a headliner is installed you must seal the air holes. Here’s why. The wet core was a potential problem because of possible delamination from rot or ice. But now that the core is open to air another problem can occur, mildew.
How to fit a through hole?
For a through hole fitting, after the core is removed, drill three holes at the edge of the removed core in a triangular pattern. Then wrap the through hull/deck fitting in enough cellophane so that it is hard to press it into the hole. Force it into the hole and inject caulk into the first of the three holes until it oozes out of the next hole, plug the hole and move on until all three holes are under pressure.
Can fiberglass be repaired?
If the upper and lower fiberglass layers are structurally sound, the core can be repaired with injection. If the fiberglass does not show stress cracks or obvious hydrolysis (blisters or milky looking fiberglass), it will be fine.
Can you remove the core of a laminate boat?
Some jobs need high pressure injection and a very thin polyurethane sealant. Basically these are places where you cannot remove the core. Here, a grid of 1/8” holes needs to be drilled in the back side of the laminate. Or, you may be filling the hollow space within a rudder.
Can stress cracks be repaired?
Large areas with stress cracks may be repaired with injection but I have not done that so I cannot predict the success. However, I can tell you this. I did do what was to be a temporary repair to a 30 foot Pearson Flyer that had a 6 inch crack in the hull. The outer hull had been punctured from a bad cradle pad. That was 10 years ago. When we injected the polyurethane from inside the hull, the polyurethane oozed out of the hull crack on the outside and then set up. The intent was to do a permanent repair after the racing season ended. A final repair was never done because the area around the temporary repair is stronger than the surrounding original hull.
Can you seal a boat with no headliner?
If she is a racing boat without a headliner the air holes can be left unsealed. But if a headliner is installed you must seal the air holes. Here’s why. The wet core was a potential problem because of possible delamination from rot or ice. But now that the core is open to air another problem can occur, mildew. Mildew requires air and moisture. If a headliner is installed and a deck leak traps moisture between the headliner and deck, mildew is sure to occur. Mildew is a sure way to delaminate any structure but you can avoid it if you cut off the air by filling the air holes. While you are doing that you may as well fill any voids in the core at the same time."
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How much moisture does kiln dried lumber need?
One important thing to remember in this technique is to get the core dry enough. When you buy kiln-dried lumber it is 19% moisture. the reason for this standard is that wood decay cannot grow at moisture levels of less than 22%. By reducing the moister to 12% I killed off the decay.
How does epoxy release vacuum?
The vacuum was released by flowing the epoxy into the voids during the infusions process which draws the epoxy into all of the voids under vacuum. agprice: In a composite sandwich you do not need elasticity, you need rigidity. In sections where the ply had turned to dust, the epoxy would be a solid block.
Can plywood be soaked in water?
Sounds like a plan except the core is shot. Plywood falls apart after being soaked in water. You could get most of the water out but the leftover plywood would have the structural integrity of dust. Here is a pic of me digging out the wet plywood from my cockpit sole. It had been in a heated dry building for 2 months. The plywood had no structural integrity and literally crumbled. The resins holding the plywood together were totally compromised. View attachment 141650
Is it bad to buy a turn key boat?
But buying a "turn key" boat with 8000 hours on the engine that's got core issues, a just some 30% discount over what it'd be worth if it was solid glass, probably would be a bad thing to get into. That's the sort of thing where either you are running a soggy floppy boat that is only going to get worse over time, or upon attempting to repair it right you realize you could've practically built a new boat for the work it will take.
Can you buy sound boats for reasonable?
If it's s sportfish or something you were talking about, what I've seen with that market is those boats are cheap enough there would basically be no sense in it. You can buy a sound one for quite reasonable $$, and it'd be the same way for downeasts too if the market wasn't so strong.
Is it bad to refurb a balsa hull?
What I think is always going to be a bad idea though is doing a complete refurb on a balsa hull, even if the hull was perfectly sound and would always stay that way, if there was any chance you decide to sell it there's a relatively low limit to what it's going to be worth no matter what the condition or investment, which is kinda true with any old boat (a well refurbished 30 year old boat is still worth a great deal less than a 10 year old boat in similar condition due to simple lack of age/use, even a downeast), but it is going to be worse with balsa core. JMHO
Is it time to repower a boat?
If you look at a boat like a house, which is kinda how it feels to me even with my 16 ft center console - moving into a boat takes years of changes and fine tuning, eventually everything is where it should be. It's time for a repower - expensive yes but intrusive no, forklift that rusty thing out and put a shiny engine on there, life is good again. If your hull starts falling apart around you it's not that simple, you might even be in position where a complete/true repair is not feasible.
Can you demo downeast hulls?
It very well might be if you were given a free esteemed downeast hull and had lots of time and a reasonable budget/expectation. You could take certain hull bottoms, do the demo, remove the core, rebuild or even replace the top by buying them from the builder that has the top molds, and end up with a boat that is very much like new but could be outfitted with any engine (due to lack of emissions regs) at a fraction of the cost of a new build...
Does foam rot?
Foams don't rot and deteriorate. ...that is good.#N#However, the core is a very structural part of the sandwich laminate. Assuming the bond from the core to the skins is intact, all is good. If that area freezes and then goes thru expansion and contraction, that is not good. Really doesn't matter if it is plywood, balsa or foam. The synthetic materials will not de-compose, so the fix, which can be involved, may be a bit easier, as the core might be able to be salvaged.
Is a JC a balsa core?
Something else good to mention - because of these things we are talking about, when you have something like a JC, Bruno, Young Brothers, Sisu, (or <insert boat here>) that is balsa cored but sound structurally, they can be an awful lot of value for the $$ because it makes them less desirable on the market.
How to repair a rotted fiberglass boat?
The next part of the repair is to remove as much water as possible, so go ahead, drill some holes on the bottom side of the affected area and let it drain. You will have to open up one side of the fiberglass sandwich skin to get at the affected area. Before you cut the skin back to remove the rotted or delaminated core and allow access to lay in the fresh material, connect the test holes with a marker to show the extent of the damaged area and act as a guide for your cut. I usually like to remove the top skin and let gravity help with the repair. In other words, if you have a delaminated deck, repair it from the top. If the problem is in the hull, repair it from inside the boat using the outside skin to support the repair. There are some exceptions to this, particularly if you have a molded surface such as a hatch opening or non-skid that would be hard to replicate. In that case you may choose to go in from the underside. The best tool for removing one skin area is a roto-zip set to a shallow depth.
How to remove rotten core?
Carefully pry off the skin and use a sharp chisel to remove rotten or delaminated core. You’ll want to keep going until you are into solid core. If the area is still wet, allow to dry. Acetone can help drive moisture out in a pinch, but remember to wear latex gloves. Now cut and dry fit the replacement core.
How long does epoxy take to set?
Epoxy will set up in roughly ten to fifteen minutes depending on air temperature and which hardener you choose, so you’ll have to work fairly quickly.
How to tell if water has gotten in a drill?
Drilling will definitely show you if water has gotten in, and if you see rot on the tip of the drill, carefully drilling more holes will show you the extent of the damage. Using a marker, note which test holes contain problems. Exposed Rotten core with test holes showing the extent of the damage. You’ll need to keep the area dry while you repair ...
Can you add resin to West System?
The thing about West System Epoxy is you can keep adding resin while it is “green” or not completely hard , but upon hardening it emits a surface sheen called Amine Blushe, which needs to be sanded between coats to form a mechanical bond. In a perfect scenario you want to avoid sanding if possible and take advantage of the “green” chemical bond– even if this means making up several small consecutive batches of epoxy resin. Simply throw out the old container and applicator, change gloves and keep going.
Can you epoxy in a new core?
You are now ready to epoxy in the new core. Before you epoxy here are a few tips for staging your materials, and techniques for epoxying that will help make this go smoothly: Have an adequate supply of latex gloves, disposable quart containers, foam brushes, stirrers and acetone.
