[Rhodes22-list] Re quest for feedback on fixing weak laminate

[cjlowe at sssnet.com]

Lou,

  After the first winter of owning my boat,I noticed a wet spot,way aft on
the keel,starboard side. I think water that had seeped into the keel,had
frozen and cracked the fiberglass over the winter. The crack was under
the cockpit area,so I chose to repair it from outside the boat.I ended
up grinding a grove 1.5" wide and 4" vertical and 1" deep,pulled out all
the loose concrete.( about a cup) I took thin woven fiberglass cloth and
covered the bottom 3/4 of the hole and left the top open for
refilling.In four different sessions I mixed epoxy and filled the hole
1/4 at a time throwing in chunks of wheel weights half way through each
pour to try to prevent voids in the keel.I had to finish covering up the
hole with the cloth for the final pour,then drilled a hole at the top
and used a syringe to top it off and covered the hole with duct tape to
seal it until it cured. then,removed the tape and laid a layer of the
heavy multi-directional mat,over lapping by a few inches all-around.
then faired as best as I could,while not perfect,I can live with a 100th
of a knot speed penalty for the imperfection. Hasen't been a problem
since.
I think the mind set that M. M. offered is to avoid water from seeping
between the hydro-cement and fiberglass,and ending up with my problem a
few years down the road. Just remember,big pours of epoxy will heat up to
the point of catching on fire as it cures.Mixing with sand may prevent
this,but since I don't know for sure,it's something you may want to
research before you attempt,if you decide to go that route.
Keep us posted,
Jerry Lowe


  I also plan to replace the cement afterwards with hydraulic cement.
> Lou
> On Apr 10, 2009, at 3:27 PM, Miracles wrote:
>
>>
>> Rhodies
>>
>> I had to pull out some of the cement in the fwd ballast area after
>> suspecting a minor ooZing leak last season. This is fwd of the head
>> area on
>> the Stb side, Ive taken out my water tank to gain working room.
>> Ive already remove cracked cement around the area and want to apply
>> a few
>> layers of barrier coated epoxy in side the hull and outside to
>> strengthen
>> the area.  Ive let it dry out all winter and had de humidifying
>> pellets
>> around this area.
>> Before applying the epoxy i was planning on washing the area with
>> Solvent
>> 202 (on the inside) and then
>> sanding the area a bit. I ve done this in the galley area already
>> and it
>> seems to strengthen the hull.
>> I just dont know what to expect when I sound the hull with a mallet
>> or end
>> of screwdriver.
>> ANY feedback out there in Rhodes 22 restorationland??
>>
>> i was off the list most of the winter as I had a new computer
>> installed at
>> wk and at home.
>> thanks
>> Lou
>> s/v Miracles
>> --
>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Request-for-
>> feedback-on-fixing-weak-laminate-tp22993385p22993385.html
>> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>
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>
> Lou Rosenberg
> LSR Productions
> Steadicam & Event Videography
>
> MAIN # 917- 716- 7896
>
> lsr3 at nyu.edu
> steadilsr at verizon.net
>
>
>
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