Flybridge Deck and riser fiberglass repair

[ryastu]

Question on fiberglass repair. Recently purchased a CHB Trawler with some known fiberglass issues, wet flybridge decking and wet riser (see the attached photos). I’m fairly green when it comes to this subject and am reaching out to this community for guidance before contacting the professionals. My questions are:
1. Can save myself some money by doing the demo work on the flybridge deck myself; cutting out fiberglass, and removing wet wood, and prepping for install. Is it that simple?
2. Based on your experience, what are the methods you would recommend to repair the riser?
3. Based on your experience does this work need to take place indoors or can the deck be sufficiently hooched and work take place under a hooch.

4. Boat is currently in South Puget Sound (Olympia) but I'm not opposed to moving it. Any recommendations for reputable fiberglass repair vendors?

I appreciate any thoughts/comments you folks can provide. Thanks, Ryan

 

[CharlieO.]

I think you could do the whole job yourself, and you could do it outdoors as long as it doesn't rain to much and the temperature is good for the lay up.

Good Luck!

 

[Brisyboy]

Hi ryastu - welcome to the forum and congrats on your not so recent purchase - Euros are the way to go

Yes to most of your questions re doing the hack work yourself and doing it outside - rain of course will be the killer, especially once you have opened up the top deck- the cover would need to be substantial and effective.

Do the deck first. The moisture in the upright is coming from the roof so leave a time gap between the two to try and let any moisture settle and hopefully dry out.

Doesn`t mean you cannot use it in the mean time.

Good luck

 

[Martin J]

Its a little difficult to form recommendations not knowing the state of the flybridge deck.

I recently had an issue with my flybridge deck. I selected the lowest damp area, installed a hose barb, connected a vacuum pump with reservoir and over a few weeks running it intermittently sucked 12-15 galls of water out of it. Once dry I vacuumed penetrating epoxy into it through various ports. The trick is too find how the water got in in the first place. My flybridge is17x30ft. Luckily my deck had good quality marine ply so only wet not delaminated.

 

[Comodave]

Yes, it is hard work physically but fairly easy technically. Check out BoatWorks Today website. He has a bunch of videos on how to do it. Question is how good are you with DIY and do you have lots of tools? If you don’t have tools this is a good excuse to buy some. My wife says I have never met a tool that I didn’t need…

 

[BruceK]

A mobile shipwright recently tore out and replaced the soggy foredecks of a Clipper 40(closely related in appearance to US brand boats PT and NP) while in its usual pen/slip. During the works a kind of plastic tent was erected over the work area to keep it dry. It seemed to work. More extensive work on a decrepit Hatteras is in train with similar protection,though unrelated to the "tent" the work seems to have stalled.

 

[friz]

Question on fiberglass repair......... Thanks, Ryan

Sorry can't help as I live on the east coast. But....Your yellow markings caught my eye. What program are you using? Nice boat, thanks.

 

[ryastu]

Thanks to all for the replies! -Ryan

 

[ryastu]

SnagIt is the application.

 

[otis maximus]

Hello Ryan,
I repaired the aft cabin roof/deck on my Eagle Trawler last year, tore the old one off, put down new plywood, fiberglass, primer and paint. It wasn't complicated once the light in my head came on, and it helped enormously that my nephew is a shipwright so the advice was free. He only helped at the beginning telling me the procedures and how it was going to happen and at the end with the application of the fiberglass and resin (then more advice).

It's hard to tell with the photos, is their actually rot under the fiberglass or is the paint just pealing off? You might try the hammer sound test to verify the extent of the rot. If it's a small area can you get by with penetrating epoxy injected into the bad area?

Also note, in the Puget Sound you will be signing your death sentence if you get caught putting anything into the water that wasn't intended to be there by nature. You'll need to build an enclosure over the portion of the boat you are working on (think 2x4s, plywood and visqueen). Make sure it's totally enclosed, top, sides, ends, and the bottom!

And just so you know my nephew gave me an estimate around 20K to remove and replace the deck. It can be done best of luck.