Bondo :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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Bondo

waiex191

Rank: Mate

Registered: Oct 07, 2020

Last visit: Feb 29, 2024

Posts: 359
Posted: Sep 03, 2021 - 11:34 PM

So, it appears the prior owner, or some prior owner, did some creative bodywork on the starboard hull and bondoed it up. After we pulled the boat out of the water, the starboard hull was leaking water. Found this on the bottom:

I'm pretty sure we didn't hit anything. Conditions were very light. I think the bondo just failed, either on the trailer or while in the water. We got gallons and gallons out of this hull.

The cat comes apart tomorrow, so I can flip it upside down and fix it properly. Boy am I glad I didn't glue all the trampoline frame together.

If this hull is trashed, I still have the starboard hull from the original boat.

Edited by waiex191 on Sep 03, 2021 - 11:36 PM.

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Bryan in Poplar Grove, IL
Supercat 17, unknown year. Future project
Hobie 16, 1977 - died a spectacular death https://youtu.be/Y7O22bp2MVA
Hobie 16, 1978 - current boat
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MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Sep 07, 2021 - 07:53 AM

ohy
charlescarlis

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jun 30, 2018

Posts: 593
Posted: Sep 07, 2021 - 11:04 AM

A GREAT example of why "no bondo" on boats. Th bummer is, there's perfectly acceptable alternatives readily available, like Dynaglass; most manufacturers will actually list whether or not the product is acceptable for water immersion. Bondo specifically states that it is not; apparently hydrophilic.

Bummer you had to discover it that way, but looks like it might be easy enough to repair, but regular old fiberglass and compatible fillers like micro balloons or colloidal silica would be my go-to. Looks painted, so even easier in the end, unless you do a 100% bottom job...yuck.

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Chuck C
NACRA 500 Mk2
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waiex191

Rank: Mate

Registered: Oct 07, 2020

Last visit: Feb 29, 2024

Posts: 359
Posted: Sep 07, 2021 - 11:18 AM

Hey Chuck,
This hull weighs 128 lbs. I am going to fix up the starboard 85 lb hull from our first H16 and use it instead, as discussed here:
https://www.thebeachcats.…ms/viewtopic/topic/18646

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Bryan in Poplar Grove, IL
Supercat 17, unknown year. Future project
Hobie 16, 1977 - died a spectacular death https://youtu.be/Y7O22bp2MVA
Hobie 16, 1978 - current boat
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charlescarlis

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jun 30, 2018

Posts: 593
Posted: Sep 07, 2021 - 06:07 PM

good plan. 45 extra pounds?...trapped water and Bondo..

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Chuck C
NACRA 500 Mk2
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Edchris177

Rank: Chief

Registered: Nov 26, 2009

Last visit: Aug 10, 2024

Posts: 2531
Posted: Sep 08, 2021 - 10:33 PM

I had the exact same issue when I first brought my N5.7 home. Someone stuffed a plastic pop lid along with some goop into a finger sized hole.
Light pressurization & soapy water found it.
I ground out the damage, made a “taco” out of a few layers of cloth,(with a bit of line so I could insert it into the hull then pull flush).
https://www.thebeachcats.…pictures?g2_itemId=76631
http:// https://www.thebe…pictures?g2_itemId=77105

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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waiex191

Rank: Mate

Registered: Oct 07, 2020

Last visit: Feb 29, 2024

Posts: 359
Posted: Sep 08, 2021 - 11:24 PM

Yikes, some people are idiots! Here are Edchris177's pics:

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Bryan in Poplar Grove, IL
Supercat 17, unknown year. Future project
Hobie 16, 1977 - died a spectacular death https://youtu.be/Y7O22bp2MVA
Hobie 16, 1978 - current boat
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