Hi All,
I hope that this is the correct forum for the following topic: fiberglass repairs.
I have picked up a new-to-me but clearly 'old but hope springs eternal' Supercat 17. (I'm struggling to find the HIN. Were those on the transoms? Mine are redone.)
The hollows/semi-tunnels that accept the cross-beams (akas?) of the catamaran are in need of being redone. In one of the four joints, one of the metal pieces that was threaded to receive the bolt from above has popped out. In another of the joints, there is a large crack that one shouldn't trust vessel integrity to.
As a relative newbie to working with fiberglass, I'm wondering whether there are clear indications as to whether I should be working with epoxy vs. polyester resin, for the SC17 case in particular.
For each joint in question, I'm going to start with a dremel tool and cut back everything I should to see what I'm working with. I'm contemplating going whole hog, and making 4 new saddle-like inserts, and trying to glass them in... establishing as strong and complete a connection to the hulls as possible. I'm also considering building in glass arches that go above and around the cross beams to capture them entirely. I'm also considering adding new chain plates (metal brackets) to the outboard and inboard sides of the hull, so that I can try holding the cross beams down, via a tensionable connection to those chain plates.
Has anyone done anything similar to their hulls?
My main question is about the kind of resin to use.
thanks!
Supercat 17 fiberglass repair: Epoxy vs. Polyester Resin?
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Matt Haberman
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Re: Supercat 17 fiberglass repair: Epoxy vs. Polyester Resin?
Hello,
The HIN was historically engraved into the transom or a metal plate on the transom. There was also a hull number molded into the hull, either on the transom on just adjacent to the beam saddle on the inside of the hull. If you share some pictures of the saddles, transoms, rudder assembly, etc, I can probably tell you the approximate vintage.
Epoxy would be the most versatile choice as it would be compatible with whatever resin your boat was built with. Earlier builds used polyester or vinylester resins. Epoxy was used in the mid-late 90's and beyond.
My suggestion would be to just rebuild the saddle as it was originally designed and avoid any of the other complex directions you proposed. If you search the forum there are some well documented repairs similar to what your going to be doing that should be helpful and provide some inspiration.
The HIN was historically engraved into the transom or a metal plate on the transom. There was also a hull number molded into the hull, either on the transom on just adjacent to the beam saddle on the inside of the hull. If you share some pictures of the saddles, transoms, rudder assembly, etc, I can probably tell you the approximate vintage.
Epoxy would be the most versatile choice as it would be compatible with whatever resin your boat was built with. Earlier builds used polyester or vinylester resins. Epoxy was used in the mid-late 90's and beyond.
My suggestion would be to just rebuild the saddle as it was originally designed and avoid any of the other complex directions you proposed. If you search the forum there are some well documented repairs similar to what your going to be doing that should be helpful and provide some inspiration.