carguy123 wrote:I'm surprised no one has even mentioned how to fix the hole in the hull.
Too easy....Throw money in it.
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March 27, 2010 3:54 p.m. Woody SuperDork
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March 27, 2010 4:01 p.m. Tommy Suddard SonDork
Bondo
Reinforced with dollar bills.
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March 28, 2010 8:06 a.m. ClemSparks SuperDork
Well, here it is:
And here's the hole in the hull
This hole would be EASY to repair from the inside, but since there is no access to the inside, I'll be doing it from this side. I still don't figure it should be that hard. I suppose I can just get a generic "fiberglass repair kit" from a local source...
Thanks for all the discussion folks! Should I weave the dollar bills like fiberglass cloth. I suppose that would work best if I shredded them first, eh?
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March 28, 2010 8:12 a.m. ignorant SuperDork
http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/17.htm
Try that before you do the dollar bills bit.
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March 28, 2010 9:10 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
ClemSparks wrote:
Well, here it is:
And here's the hole in the hull
that'll buff out
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March 28, 2010 9:37 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork
actually.. you can fix that from the inside. I know quite a few sunfish owners who had sealable ports installed in the front deck. All you need is a Screw out Deckplate. I suggest you get a 6" one, cut your hull in the hull in a convient place to both repair that hole and use the deckplate.. fix the hole, and then install the deckplate.
And you can get them here.
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March 28, 2010 12:27 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork
Yeah...the research I've done suggest I'll probably be putting in an access port to help dry the hull out anyway. I'm not sure I want to put it in a place that will work for getting to the hole I need to repair. However, it just might work out. I think a repair from the outside really won't be that bad anyway, after reading ignorant's link (thanks a BUNCH, btw, ignorant).
I'll try to update with progress as it happens (I have no real plan at this point...there are a LOT of projects on my plate)
Clem
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March 28, 2010 1:07 p.m. Stealthtercel Reader
Tommy,
I know as much about sailing as I know about embroidery (hint: zip), but, according to Wikipedia, if you want your Sunfish to point better, you need something like this:
"In the 1960s, a member of the New Canaan, Conn. Sunfish Fleet, John Black Lee, independently experimented with a conventional sail rig for the Sunfish. He developed a high-aspect ratio sail that worked on the Sunfish hull and christened his design the Formula S. The high aspect ratio sail plan has better upwind performance characteristics over the lateen sail, changing the boat’s handling to point more like other Bermuda rig sailboats in its size. With this configuration, complexity of sail control is elevated by the addition of dynamic outhaul, downhaul, and mainsheet traveller lines."
I have no idea if that's Grassroots or not. But if it modifies the original for better handling....
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March 28, 2010 1:33 p.m. bludroptop SuperDork
914Driver wrote: </cite
Anyone ever drive a sailfish? Same as a Sunfish but it has no foot well, only hand grabs. Talk about an upside down machine.
Dan
Yep. I had a wood hull Sailfish. It did not like being left on a mooring. Like all wooden boats, it leaked and was nearly impossible to dry it out.
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March 28, 2010 3:08 p.m. Woody SuperDork
Wooden boats often leak because they dry out. The wood shrinks and gaps open.
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March 28, 2010 3:09 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork
yes, wood boats need to get wet so they swell up and close all the gaps.
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March 28, 2010 9:51 p.m. friedgreencorrado Dork
Sunfish FTW! Tommy, if you don't like the way they handle when day sailing, try racing one.
And no, I wasn't any better at that than I was racing cars..
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March 28, 2010 10:57 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork
yea.. get a regatta with 20 sunfish all vying for the first mark.... it's get ugly fast
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March 29, 2010 1:55 p.m. EricM Dork
I am the Staff Advisor for the University of Illinois Sailing Club and Race Team.
I just wanted to say that. And, that I love sailboats.
My father has a 31 footer we keep on Lake Michigan. I sail every chance I get.
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March 29, 2010 1:56 p.m. EricM Dork
bludroptop wrote:
914Driver wrote: </cite
Anyone ever drive a sailfish? Same as a Sunfish but it has no foot well, only hand grabs. Talk about an upside down machine.
Dan
Yep. I had a wood hull Sailfish. It did not like being left on a mooring. Like all wooden boats, it leaked and was nearly impossible to dry it out.
Maybe others have mentioned this, but you want to keep wooden boats wet, the wood swells and plugs up the gaps. When building a new wooden boat they needed to cure Wet for several days before sailing.
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March 29, 2010 1:58 p.m. EricM Dork
ClemSparks wrote:
This hole would be EASY to repair from the inside, but since there is no access to the inside, I'll be doing it from this side. I still don't figure it should be that hard. I suppose I can just get a generic "fiberglass repair kit" from a local source...
Yes, just ptach it up with Bondo (I said it!) and then glass over it. It doesn't have to be pretty just watertight.
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March 29, 2010 2:29 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork
I'm going to do my best to make it pretty, though. not necessarily gellcoat/paint pretty, but at least smooth like the patch isn't there pretty.
I had a boat with an ugly patch. These boats spend more time upside down than rightside up...might as well have it look good.
Clem
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March 29, 2010 2:49 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork
I patched a hole in my Jet-14 with no gel coat. Patch it, then scuff the hull and paint it with Petit one part epoxy. Beautiful.
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March 29, 2010 3:28 p.m. Sonic Dork
Look into West System products for fiberglass repair and barrier coat. Very versitle and good to work with. I find all sorts of non marine uses for it, and it seems to last forever in the base resin/hardener forms, plus the wide variety of mix ins.
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March 29, 2010 4:02 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork
So yeah...at this point I'm thinking I can remove the delaminated fiberglass, bevel out quite a ways, then build up the areas with progressively larger patches (like in the article Ignorant posted) until I acheive the proper thickness. Then grind smooth, add lightweight filler (any suggestions?), and paint the hull.
I don't know gelcoat, nor have I ever used it...
Thanks, Clem
