Gel-Coat Put away for winter

[SPBFAN]

Well, crap. The boat is put away for the winter. I must say winter for me is only until January 1 2011 then it will be out and running for the polar bear plunge.

I do have a problem and frustration though. When I bought this boat some of you will remember all the problems it had.

Well one of those problems was the Gel-Coat cracking around the D-Hook on the front. Well when I was putting it away yesterday guess what. In the exact same spot as when the boat was new is a Gel-Coat crack.

I guess I have a couple of months to get the Gel-Coat and Fiberglass fixed. I will be spending the next couple of weeks learning how to mix and spray Gel-Coat. I guess the people that repaired it last time did not do something right to fix it I will have to go after fiberglass repair this time and make sure the fiberglass is ok. It is weird the crack is in the exact same location as before.

[chpthril]

One thing i would do is is fabricate a larger backing plate for the d-ring. Most of the time, it's not a manufacturers or repair persons defect, but caused by normal stress applied to the ring when retrieving and trailering the boat. A larger backing plate will allow for the ring to be tightened more, while distributing the load better. Also, check to make sure the holes for the studs are not over sized. This will allow movement which will also cause cracks. Also, when you pull it off, make sure the holes in the g/c are beveled. This helps prevent spiders.

[SPBFAN]

One thing i would do is is fabricate a larger backing plate for the d-ring. Most of the time, it's not a manufacturers or repair persons defect, but caused by normal stress applied to the ring when retrieving and trailering the boat. A larger backing plate will allow for the ring to be tightened more, while distributing the load better. Also, check to make sure the holes for the studs are not over sized. This will allow movement which will also cause cracks. Also, when you pull it off, make sure the holes in the g/c are beveled. This helps prevent spiders.

That is what I was thinking also. I just have not decided on what would be the best way to make the backing plate with Stainless steel Aluminum or wood. Either way I will also glass that into the nose area creating a bigger surface are for the force to be applied. I have not pulled off the Dring yet but I am also betting they did not bevel the holes for the repairs when they repaired it the first time. But their is no fact to that yet as I have not pulled it off to see. Just a guess.
What have you see done in the nose by others. Wood, Stainless plates, or aluminum plates?

[chpthril]

That is what I was thinking also. I just have not decided on what would be the best way to make the backing plate with Stainless steel Aluminum or wood. Either way I will also glass that into the nose area creating a bigger surface are for the force to be applied. I have not pulled off the Dring yet but I am also betting they did not bevel the holes for the repairs when they repaired it the first time. But their is no fact to that yet as I have not pulled it off to see. Just a guess.
What have you see done in the nose by others. Wood, Stainless plates, or aluminum plates?

.25" alum bonded and then glassed over would work perfect and be far less thick then wood and cheaper and easier to work with then SS.

[SPBFAN]

.25" alum bonded and then glassed over would work perfect and be far less thick then wood and cheaper and easier to work with then SS.

Thanks for the input. I will probably go that rout. I will take pics of the process while doing it for other to see how it was corrected.