cracked hull

[tubbs]

well i dont you think i could be anymore down, spent the last two weeks fitting foot holds ,foot strap and turfing my octane (by hand):biggthumpup: to go out yesterday in the flat!!! for a trail run
flushed it a while ago and looked underneath to find a 2"crack:bigeyes: in the gel coat started pushing with my finger like you do and water was present:banghead: i think its right through

already ear marked some carbon for reinforcement later this year which i will have to do now!

do you guys think one layer would be enough or should i use glass cloth and then carbon or even carbon kevlar ??

cheers

tubbs

 

[Matt_E]

If you're fixing a crack (and not just reinforcing) I would most definetly do more than one layer of carbon.
In fact, I'd use glass (and perhaps carbon on top if you want the visual plus)

 

[demolition_x]

where is the crack at on the bottom of the hull?

 

[tubbs]

the crack is just under the fly wheel cover running front to back
without taking the engine out it looks as if the flywheel housing has hit the inside there is not a lot of room under it (i cant get my fingers under it)

 

[sjetrider]

Without pics its hard to say. I would sand the cracked area and verify its not just in gelcoat. If its just gelcoat cracked then remove motor & reinforce on inside and just regelcoat bottom. If it is cracked into glass then will need to grind crack from bottom side to a "V" going all the way through hull and do same on inside. Make sure you grind all fatigued glass out length and width wise. Then use Polyester or Epoxy resin (preferably Polyester) as I believe the Octane is hand layed polyester right? If you use polyester resin, use a chop glass to fill initial void (top and bottom) then use a clothe on inside over lapping the patched area aprox. 2-3" all the way arround.
Hope this helps, we have done many of these repairs without a failure yet.

 

[IceRocket1286]

thats a VERY common place for all octanes to crack, in fact if its the first year its no surprise it cracked there. All of those skis crack, everywhere.

 

[tubbs]

here is a pic what do think guys

gunna buy some carbon/kevlar and do 3 layers bottom 3 under the pole brkt and 2 on the sides and some gel coat filler for the outside

grant

 

[Rickster]

Grind both sides to a 'V' and fill with epoxy mixed with milled fibers.

Then reinforce from the inside with fiberglass, then carbon fiber if you want the bling...

 

[WaveDemon]

here is a pic what do think guys

gunna buy some carbon/kevlar and do 3 layers bottom 3 under the pole brkt and 2 on the sides and some gel coat filler for the outside

grant

make sure you dig it out and drill out the ends so it doesn't spread. fill the hole with thickend epoxy or marine tex.

 

[tubbs]

not really bothered about the bling but do want a neat finish and ive just fitted f/holds and f/strap so money is a issue now

i suppose its not to bad as the water and weather is getting colder over here but thats no excuse to drag my heels should have it done by the end of feb will post pics

cheers guys

grant

 

[tubbs]

quick question do you guys think it would be best to do the layers as one big section or break it down
ie the bottom and sides as one big piece or three

cheers
grant

 

[norcal ex]

grind it down so it looks like \/ but not that much of an angle. After that use different size peices of fiberglass to fill in the V and at the end use larger peices to bond the filled in V to the glass that isnt disturbed -v- sorta like that in a way

 

[tubbs]

cheers guys

once ive done the repair how many panels should i lay up in?

was thinking from just under hood seal to center of the hull including as far up in the nose as i can get covering bond line ,both sides meeting in middle.(side)
(1 panel (making sure i do the engine mount plates)

then one long piece running length off the hull agian over lapping the engine mount plates also as far up into the nose as i can get covering bond line (bottom)

so i would lay up in order after repair

bottom,side,side,bottom,side,side,bottom then pole

under the pole will be a bitch but was thinking off using a strip starting at the bond line up and under to other side x3 ( that enough?)

also has anyone done under there pole what was easiest for you ?

cheers guys this is probably going to be the biggest job i have ever done so want to get right

grant

 

[sjetrider]

I would use glass top and bottom, like Norcal says. As for reinforcement, there are multiple threads here with perfect info. I assume the same with Octane as the SJ except you can use a much cheaper polyester resin instead of epoxy as it is all fiberglass right?