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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Bow Damage

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Phredde
Navigator

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125 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/10/2013 : 20:07:51

Ooops! Looks like those 75 mph winds we had in SF got the best of Phredde at the dock. Discovered the damage this afternoon. Any advice from you fiberglass pros out there? I'd like to try a credible, if temporary, repair in the slip, but this may be beyond that. Thoughts?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20811299@N04/8638427837/

Phredde
Catalina 25
San Francisco

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 07:05:40

Tuff Luck. Sparky was ok. Springed all around. Have a railing on dock a few inches from bow (shortened slip because of transformer there). Had the main off for a minor repair. Maybe that helped. Hope you are able to fix the problem okay.

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 07:58:38

That's pretty minor, the boat and fiberglass is quite thick there. Around here it could (Seattle) probably be fixed for under $500. Matching gelcoat colors is a pain, so I'd probably hire it out personally.

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 08:26:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Phredde
 Ooops! Looks like those 75 mph winds we had in SF got the best of Phredde at the dock. Discovered the damage this afternoon. Any advice from you fiberglass pros out there? I'd like to try a credible, if temporary, repair in the slip, but this may be beyond that. Thoughts?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sorry she was damaged! However I totally agree with Alex W. Since its only on the bow, you might get away with gelcoat (or epoxy paint?) that is not an absolutely perfect match if its carried all along just the leading edge of the bow? A Pro will be able the best person to answer your questions after they actually see the boat!

Good luck!!

Chuck

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 13:51:22

First clean the bow using a toilet bowl cleaner called "The Works". This will remove the yellow stain and clean everything. There are others out there, but none works as well. Use rubber gloves, the stuff is very strong.
I did not notice any holes, it just appears that the gelcoat got completely rubbed off exposing the fiberglass. I had a problem similar on my 78'. To repair required a product called Marine Tex. I sanded the gelcoat rough edges, mixed and applied Marine Tex, overlapping slightly. I put on three thin coats then sanded it down using 800 grit wet for the final sanding. Then got a can of epoxy paint and applied three coats sanding lightly between coats. The white was not a perfect match, but was close. Good luck with your repair.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 14:37:35

Great tip, marine-tex is something anyone can get good results with and makes a repair on an owie like that trivial.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 15:43:59

I don't know but if you don't match up the color and it looks like a repair, That's going to stick out like a sore thumb. It would turn me off from buying your boat when that time comes and you will have to price the boat for less. Pay now or pay later type of thing. I would have a pro do it. What about insurance? By the way I see in the photo you have the dock edge protectors. I have the same but I also ran one along the front of the dock just for this reason or if I come in a little to aggressive.

Edited by - islander on 04/11/2013 15:57:29

Phredde
Navigator

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125 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 16:15:55

Thanks for the tips! Glad you seem to agree it's not major. Insurance is just liability, so that's out. I'm not too happy with the marina, as there was a half corroded iron ring sticking out of the dock that was at least partly to blame. But I did lose a snubber from one of the bow dock lines a few months ago, thought it was OK, but was wrong. I did do a dock walk and found a slip that had a large fender mounted to the dock in that place, and am planning to replicate. I also replaced the snubber and re-set the lines. Thinking now to do a quick repair in the slip to be ready for opening day, and keep the water out. I am sure that will add to the boat's "charachter". Then get it done right the next time I haul out.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 17:21:47

My boat has a repair where the bow eye used to be. Sometime before I bought her it looks like someone may have come into the dock a little to fast and knocked the eye out. Whoever did it repaired it with Marine-Tex and didn't do that great of a job (repaired but not sanded or faired) but it has held for 5 years and doesn't leak.

My repair is probably half the size yours will need to be.

I plan on cleaning it up and replacing the bow eye this summer after I pull the boat out.

I'd definitely just patch it and go sailing.

Edited by - on

Arlington
Navigator

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USA
196 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 20:09:21

Ahoy Mate:
West Marine or Catalina Direct has Marine Tex, and iboats.com says they have an exact match for the original C25 Gelcoat. Who knows for a lot less than $500 you could become one of those 'expert professionals.' Okay maybe not, but at worst you will have to grind or sand off what you do and start over. Read and follow the instructions carefully. It best, you will be patient, do it well, and it will not leak and look great!
Doug

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5416 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 20:17:06

Check with Don Casey's Complete Book of Sailboat Maintenance where he describes the finer points of gelcoat repair.
Another thing you might try is visit a few different West Marine or Marine Supply stores and talk to "the old salt" guy about the gel coat repair.
While most of the customer service reps couldn't tell you a binnacle from a portlight, there's always one guy who's seen it and done it, and has the tee shirt to prove it. And he's always happy to sell you exactly what you need, and won't steer you wrong.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2013 : 21:32:54

That appears to be a little more than just gelcoat damage, but Marine Tex is probably the way to go. It's sorta like working with Bondo on a car, if you've ever gotten into that. It might even look reasonable for sailing this year without a top-coat, at least for this season. (It's not pink like Bondo.) You really don't want water migrating into the laminate. Gelcoat can come later when you have the opportunity to perfect the repair--you can bring the subject up again then. ("Voyager" Bruce probably can't even find the gouges I filled on Passage!

)

By the way, should we talk about how you have your spring-lines set?

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/11/2013 21:37:44

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2013 : 11:32:58

Yeah, you got off relatively unscathed!

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/92661231

Edited by - OJ on 04/12/2013 13:49:10

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2013 : 15:31:27

That is not that hard to repair for someone that has a little skill at puttying and sanding. If it was me I would not use epoxy for that. I would thicken up some gelcoat using fumed silica and putty it up. Then I would spray the repair area using a Preval sprayer. It’s not as hard as it seems. I think I would have to do it on the hard. However, if you’re getting into sailing season, fix it next haul out. email me @ catalina0029@yahoo.com and I'll tell you step by step how to make an invisible repair.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2013 : 19:50:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Happy D
 ...However, if you’re getting into sailing season, fix it next haul out...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I disagree on that--this is deep into the laminate, with exposed glass mat. Moisture should not be allowed to migrate further into the laminations, as it will do along every glass filament around this "crunch". It should be covered up, even if roughly--fairing and finishing can be done later. Marine Tex is essentially a heavily thickened epoxy putty that is made for this kind of application.

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2013 : 16:17:44

A simple trick to look for damage beyond the obvious is check the bow from the opposite side the sun is on when the sun is low in the sky (shining directly onto the side of the bow), or place a powerful flashlight inside the bow compartment and then step outside to view. With that much visible damage, I would be surprised if you didn't find internal spider cracking in the gelcoat beyond the area where the gelcoat is missing. If you find evidence, it is not cause for panic but should reinforce the suggestion to have a professional look at the damage and make a recommendation.

Edited by - glivs on 04/13/2013 16:19:33

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2013 : 17:22:49

To repair it right you'll have to do it out of the water. For now, I'd just mask tape the area, and paint it with a light coat of white spray paint, so it isn't as noticeable. I'd sail it all summer and repair it in the fall or next spring. It doesn't app[ear to be serious enough to spoil your sailing season.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2013 : 18:17:32

I'm on the marine tex side. It's sturdy, waterproof and you can grind it down a little and gel coat when you haul.

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