Repairing a fiberglass boat

[Bigwoods]

Does anyone have any experience repairing fiberglass boats? I bought boat trailer off Craigslist. The guy insisted I take the boat so he wouldn't have to dispose of the thing. It is a very nice Larson boat with the step through windshield.

The problem is cracks around the transom where the motor mounts. (No motor or controls included) If you shake it you can feel the weakness. It was licensed last year.

I am wondering if it is a home workshop project of if this type of repair should be done by a professional. Don't know what I will do with it to get rid of it. My neighbor said to drop it in the river and let it float up to Winnipeg. It would be fun to fix it if it is not beyond my capabilities.

[48Rob]

Greg,

I would be concerned with the strength/condition of the wood behind the fiberglass.

Patching the fiberglass is pretty easy, getting to the wood behind it is the challenge.
(you can fix most anything, but how much it costs usually gets in the way of the dream)

In my area, boats in that condition make really cool play structures when parked in a sand pile for the kids to play on.

Rob

[pchast]

There's a lot on line about the job. In the end you need to make your own decision about its worth.
It could be a good learning experience. It could be a money pit?

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-rep ... on-transom

http://www.slideshare.net/boatrestorati ... som-repair

http://transomfix.dcpolk.com/

[cwegga]

This site has helpful people and good repair info also. http://www.classicboatclub.com/forums/

[Lesbest]

Drill a hole thru the bottom of the transom and see how much trapped water runs out. Larsons were known for cracking along the keel, about the front 1/3. If during the hull layup they used balsa wood for filler, (common and ok) if water leaked thru the fiberglass hull the balsa will soak up the water and you end up with a real heavy boat.

Releasing the water first will help you decide whether to fix it or not.

Les

[Roly Nelson]

I bought an old Glaspar fiberglass boat some years ago, with the intent on making it into a neat rig to go boating in. As I proceeded to do all of the fiberglass repairs and built new seats and floorboards, I realized that the transom was not able to sustain the extream weight or pressure of the 85 horse Mercury engine. I logged onto a fiberglass boat website, and found out how expensive and difficult it would be to replace the transom and fiberglassing it in place and be strong enough to sustain the exteme weight and pressure of the outboard engine. A short time later, I saved myself a lot of cost and time by selling it for what I bought it for. Good move. If you are at all interested, there is a site, called Fiberglassics, which can give you all kinds of info regarding this type of restoration.
Good luck.....Roly ~~

[Bigwoods]

Thanks everyone. I decided it wasn't for me. I would rather spend time working on the tear. I think this would be too much. Thank You for all the places to look to help with thank decision.