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cbcblaze View Drop Down
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    Posted: 11 Jun 08 at 9:00pm

latest news -

this is turning into a blog but , hey it may be useful to someone:

The first repair didn't last, it split in a force 3-4 in waves - too much flex and stress. Not one to give up , I took things to the next stage which is pretty drastic - rapair crack again, then drill 5mm holes at 10 cm intervals and rivet. then fair the rivet ends with epoxy filler and cover the whole with fibreglass tape and resin. In my garage the repair looks strong but only time will tell. 

Next test on the water is Saturday - this must work !!  otherwise the scrappy beckons....

 

 
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cbcblaze View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		Post Options Post Options   Quote cbcblaze Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 08 at 9:46pm

Ok - here's the outcome of what happened....

The crack in the joint had opened up wide enough to allow me to get in with a grinding tool on my Dremel. I used two different sizes - the tool looks like a wee ball on the end of a stick and it carved it's way nice and cleanly through the joint without ever straying from the crack. I cut down to about 8mm depth in most places - less if the material seemed strong, and right through to thin air if weaker or crumbly.

I mixed polyester resin with colloidal silica powder until it had a paste consistency rather than liquid. Hopefully the filler will give it some resilience and less brittleness. One side of the boat had a 2mm gap to fill but the worst bit on the other side had opened up to 4-5mm. I filled it proud of the surface then sanded it back flat the next day. I was going to reinforce the wider gap with a couple of layers of tape and resin but it seems to be a strong enough join. Once on the water I may be proved wrong - as someone pointed out, the forces are strong when capsized or in waves. If it opens up again, I'll repeat the filling but will add the tape.

water trials this weekend...

cheers,  Angus....
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6660 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 08 at 8:52am
Originally posted by Merlinboy

In my experience though polyester resin works best

Polyester isn't really an adhesive though, so will never be great either. I don't know what the big shops use, maybe something like sikaflex.
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alstorer View Drop Down
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Posts: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Quote alstorer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 08 at 7:34am
Epoxy failure's usually an indication of poor surface prep or deviating from the mix ratio on the pack.
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Merlinboy View Drop Down
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Posts: 3169 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Merlinboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 08 at 10:16pm
In my experience though polyester resin works best, epoxy eventually fails.  I was always taught to use the right tool for the job!
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alstorer View Drop Down
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Posts: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Quote alstorer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 08 at 10:12pm
Originally posted by Merlinboy

Epoxy isnt the right glue for lasers you should be using polyester resin i think! Try cleaning out the crack with a junior hacksaw blade first and make sure its bone dry befor you glue.



Lasers are polyester, but epoxy can be used for repairs on polyester. The reverse isn't true though.
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radixon View Drop Down
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Posts: 2407 		Post Options Post Options   Quote radixon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 08 at 9:24pm
Originally posted by cbcblaze

Thanks guys,  that's helped a lot.

I'll try the hacksaw blade method first with polyester resin and Bulldog clips. the boat isn't worth a professional repair so it's my repair or the dump..!



You may be suprised what goes on ebay, especially if someone near you is looking and wants a cheap boat and is prepared to do some work on it.
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cbcblaze View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		Post Options Post Options   Quote cbcblaze Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 08 at 9:21pm

Thanks guys,  that's helped a lot.

I'll try the hacksaw blade method first with polyester resin and Bulldog clips. the boat isn't worth a professional repair so it's my repair or the dump..!!

cheers,

Angus....

 
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djdhi View Drop Down
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Posts: 44 		Post Options Post Options   Quote djdhi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 08 at 8:52pm

laser deck/ hull join

Hi,

I have had this problem too, on and of , though not with a Laser but a Streaker. I have managed a temporary repair by carefully sawing between the join with a junior hacksaw blade with the pins at the end knocked out. I glued up with epoxy after the edges were roughened in this way, using Bulldog clips, some-one said if it is a polyester boat then I shoudn't be using epoxy, as it does not stick too well with polyester,  I think boat builders use Unibond or something similiar.I try and avoid levering up my dinghy now if I get it stuck in the mud after a capsize. The leverage forces are tremendous.

Good luck with your repair

djdhi
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Merlinboy View Drop Down
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Posts: 3169 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Merlinboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 08 at 8:52pm

Epoxy isnt the right glue for lasers you should be using polyester resin i think! Try cleaning out the crack with a junior hacksaw blade first and make sure its bone dry befor you glue.
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