Author Topic: Huge hole in hull! (Read 42331 times)

ski machine · « **on:** October 06, 2013, 10:19:28 AM »

Idling away from launch, under 5 mph, following same path I took 4 days earlier and BOOM! The boat wheelies, the motor starts jumping around and my beautiful C-500 Metric begins taking on water fast. I barely made it the 20 or so feet back to the launch before sinking to the bottom.

I've never done work like this before. Advice? I really don't want to split the hull and I wish I wouldn't have to remove the floor (I have no idea how to do this) and I don't want to scrap the boat because this is really one of the best looking Glastrons I've seen.

I believe I hit concrete and re-bar someone dumped from the bridge I was about to pass under.

Glastron_GT160 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2013, 10:24:14 AM »

Wow... that is a HUGE hole! Given the size of the hole, I would thing repair from inside is a must-do, unfortunately. Such a shame to see it, as your boat looks pristine otherwise.

Hyperacme · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2013, 10:36:00 AM »

OMG !
Made me sick to my stomach just looking at photo's ...
Pretty big holes to fix from the outside ...

OleRed · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2013, 11:05:00 AM »

WOW !
Thats terrible to happen to such a pretty boat, but not all that big a deal to repair, but you will probably need to remove the most of the floor because all the foam will be saturated under there, otherwise, just a section over the gouge would have to be removed to accomplish the repair.,

CVZ18Fan · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2013, 12:09:58 PM »

Holy S#%T!! So sorry to see that. Best of luck with the repair. Utilize the knowledge on this board, you will be back in the water soon. Good luck!

Rich

ski machine · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2013, 12:27:57 PM »

So, here's what I THINK I need to do:

1. Remove seats.
2. Remove carpet (don't know best way to do this)
3. Map out area of floor to be removed
4. Cut out floor (Don't know correct way to do this including depth of cut, preferred method of cutting, etc)
5. Remove/cut out foam over holes in hull
6. That's far enough for now..

Comments and suggestions please.

Jason · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2013, 12:38:28 PM »

That makes me sick to see! So sorry.... Do you have insurance on your boat?

ski machine · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2013, 12:40:50 PM »

Quote from: 74GlasCarlSS on October 06, 2013, 12:38:28 PM

That makes me sick to see! So sorry.... Do you have insurance on your boat?

I don't, unless my homeowner's policy covers this, I will have to check tomorrow... pretty sure I just had the liability, though...

V153 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2013, 12:49:16 PM »

Oh man, that really sucks SM. Owwch!!!

Ya I'm afraid the only way to fix that's from the inside.

If there's a silver lining it's that there shouldn't be any foam under the floor, least there wasn't in mine. Just two massive 'flotation boxes' in each corner & the stuff stuck up under the deck'n gunnals.

Shame to see that happen to such a purty boat. Good Luck with it!

84carlson · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2013, 02:11:42 PM »

Is it covered in your insurance policy!!!!

thedeuceman · « **Reply #10 on:** October 06, 2013, 02:17:25 PM »

Bummer...
I saw that on Facebook yesterday.
My 2 cents...
After you get the carpet up you will see where the wood transitions to glass on the side of the hull, Floor should be 1/2" so cut that deep but don't go all the way to the edge. Then use one of those oscillating multi tools to cut around the edges using caution not to get into the hull.
Lots of good info here.

WetRaider · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2013, 02:48:07 PM »

When you get down to it from the inside, you can make really quick work with a flap-wheel on your grinder. You'll want a really coarse grit because you'll be laying up layer after layer.

You can find many videos on YouTube about making fiberglass repairs. They may not teach you everything, but if you'll watch several it should give you some confidence. The layup will not be difficult, the hard part is getting to it.

sledneck67 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2013, 03:50:03 PM »

That sucks,it was a nice looking boat.What lake or river did it happen on?Were you able to find what did that?

ski machine · « **Reply #13 on:** October 06, 2013, 05:47:40 PM »

Quote from: sledneck67 on October 06, 2013, 03:50:03 PM

That sucks,it was a nice looking boat.What lake or river did it happen on?Were you able to find what did that?

I was on the Red River, in Fargo, ND. Haven't gone back to that spot since. Going to take my aluminum fishing boat down next day or so.... a friend is a scuba diver and he offered to go down and take a look.. he thinks it's probably something like a dumped appliance or stolen car, some such *Censored *... either way... I wish I'd missed it.

ski machine · « **Reply #14 on:** October 06, 2013, 05:51:03 PM »

It will be a nice looking boat again. But it's never going on the river again. Strictly lakes from now on. It's just too expensive.

wiliermdb · « **Reply #15 on:** October 06, 2013, 07:45:02 PM »

That's a serious hole for idling at 5 mph or less. Only thing I can think of would be re-bar or some sharp jagged steel to rip out that much glass. That hole looks about 3 inches wide and at least two feet long.

I would check with a local repair shop and see what they can do before ripping out the interior. A friend of mine hit a well head (3 inch steal pipe) that was about a foot below the surface with his bass boat doing about 40 mph. It put a gash in his hull nearly the same as yours. He brought it to a place that removed the motor, drained the gas and suspended the hull and flipped it over and did all the repair work from the outside.

It's worth it to get it looked at and at least know what your options are before you start ripping up the carpet and all the interior, cutting out the floor, etc.

And all of you out there, please get full insurance on your boats. This is a perfect and very unfortunate example of why we all should have full coverage. I have State Farm and when towing, if I clip someone I'm covered by my auto insurance. If it comes off the ball, flips on the highway the boat insurance covers it. If it sinks or I smash it into the dock or it catches on fire out on the water it's covered by the boat insurance.

I have a $4500 policy on my CVX. Five hundred on the trailer because nothing will really every happen to it, $4000 on the boat, motor and contents. I have a $500 deductible and the policy is only $146 per year.

Rosscoe · « **Reply #16 on:** October 06, 2013, 08:06:54 PM »

That is NASTY, especially at low speed! Who is responsible for that body of water? Someone should at least mark it with a buoy or get the crap out of there,, what ever it is. That is painful to see.

catchnedge · « **Reply #17 on:** October 06, 2013, 09:08:15 PM »

Man, sorry to see that! Best of luck with the repairs... you'll get her back looking great again!

Whatever it is, it's very dangerous and needs to be removed or marked, especially in a high traffic launch area. Rivers are so unpredictable.

ski machine · « **Reply #18 on:** October 06, 2013, 10:02:28 PM »

Quote from: wiliermdb on October 06, 2013, 07:45:02 PM

That's a serious hole for idling at 5 mph or less. Only thing I can think of would be re-bar or some sharp jagged steel to rip out that much glass. That hole looks about 3 inches wide and at least two feet long.

I would check with a local repair shop and see what they can do before ripping out the interior. A friend of mine hit a well head (3 inch steal pipe) that was about a foot below the surface with his bass boat doing about 40 mph. It put a gash in his hull nearly the same as yours. He brought it to a place that removed the motor, drained the gas and suspended the hull and flipped it over and did all the repair work from the outside.

It's worth it to get it looked at and at least know what your options are before you start ripping up the carpet and all the interior, cutting out the floor, etc.

The hole is nearly 8 inches wide and 48+ inches long.

Thanks for the tip! Do you know how much the repairs ran your friend?

75starflight · « **Reply #19 on:** October 06, 2013, 10:09:29 PM »

Chris, I had a 5" long crack in Phoenix Rising's hull and a spot on the transom repaired at the begining of the season and it cost us around $600. Just some food for thought.