Reinforcing Soft Hulls Around Access Ports on a H18By David HopperSuggest that you first remove the port hardware and all of the slopped silicone. Nothing like trying to get the hardware off later with all sorts of epoxy on it and the silicone is a great epoxy release agent. Use epoxy. Be sure the surfaces are dry. Put boat on something, upside down about 5 feet off the ground. Then you can stand under it and work through the access holes. Buy long gloves (up to shoulders) from either your fiberglass supplier or a veterinary supplier (inseminating cows). Paint a good layer of epoxy on the surfaces. Place the cloth into the epoxy and make sure it is saturated. Add two more layers. (I use a fibreglass cloth about the consistency of t-shirt material.) Consider reinforcing the deck lip area under the front cross bars while you are at it. lay cloth down the hull side and across the deck. Eliminates cracking in this area. Clean up around the porthole opening and reinstall. Use stainless steel nuts and bolts not that delrin crap and lots of silicone. By using all of these techniques, I can easily create an airtight Hobie 18 hull which will hold air pressure all day. I am sure this voids any Hobie warranty and you have to remember to relieve the pressure. |
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