www.iFourWinns.com

just wondering what you guys have done of holes in the fiberglass. it is about 1/2" x 1/4" hole. it is on the backside of one of the ribs on the bottom towards the front of the boat. I was wondering if one of those 2 part epoxys would work. The one I was looking at was called power poxy marine. I was told that the ribs are separate from the actual hull fiberglass is that correct? is this more serious that just filling the hole water tight?

if you looked at the pic in my sig line.... follow the front bouy down to the bottom rib. it is on the backside of that.

_________________
97 18' HORIZON 4.3L (JUST SLIGHTLY MODIFIED) VP.
PULLED BY 2007 DODGE RAM 1500

Can't really answer you question, but wanted to say Hey to a fellow Wisconsin boater.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

well hello, I've been meaning to talk to you about going down the wolf river from freemont down to who knows where.... didn't know how if I could just drop it in and go or if there is alot of stuff to watch out for....

_________________
97 18' HORIZON 4.3L (JUST SLIGHTLY MODIFIED) VP.
PULLED BY 2007 DODGE RAM 1500

I havn't made the trip uo the Wolf yet, but I know people that have and it sounds like its pretty open. Theres a lot of big boats that go up it with now problem so you should be fine. We intend on trying it this year. Don't go up the Fox river out of Lake Butte Des Mortes though. Tried that last year and it has some awesome views and what not, but it is really shallow. I was never able to get over 10-15 MPH. Couldn't get up on plan without hitting bottom. Depth finder read 2 ft in spots. Oh and if you take the Wolf far enough you will end up in Lake Poygan which connects to Winneconnee, which connects to Butte Des Mortes which connects to Winnebago. You can go for a good couple days cruising around down here without seeing the same stuff twice.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

sounds like a good time I'll have to try that. I would also like to take a trip up to the Apostle islands, I've heard that is great. lots of places to hit before the middle of July, another addition to the family.... might be a slow boating year...

_________________
97 18' HORIZON 4.3L (JUST SLIGHTLY MODIFIED) VP.
PULLED BY 2007 DODGE RAM 1500

Gonna be a short season for us to. Have a new addition coming in August!

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

congrats.....this will be my third. 8 yr boy. 18month old girl and baby in July.

_________________
97 18' HORIZON 4.3L (JUST SLIGHTLY MODIFIED) VP.
PULLED BY 2007 DODGE RAM 1500

COngrats. We also have a 16 month old right now.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Lots of little ones being born to board members. We are due with twin in May and have a 2 year old as well and St. Louis Dave I believe is due in June.

Back to your questions. Do you have a closeup picture of the hole? If it is all the way through the glass take it to a professional. Is it below the waterline?

Congrats to all the upcoming new parents. Our first was 3 when our twins were born, 13 1/2 years ago .

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

You mean on the chine? How deep is the hole? What made it? If it's just a surface gouge that's one thing. But if it's deep it may require other steps. Also, has the boat been in the water since the hole happened? If so there's water intrusion issues to worry about.

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

yes it is on the backside of the chine. it is all the way through but there is another layer of fiberglass under, that is fine. has been in the water a few times...I was told that nothing could get worse, but that person very well could be wrong.

I'll try to get a pic sometime this weekend, it is at the inlaws stuffed into their shop.

_________________
97 18' HORIZON 4.3L (JUST SLIGHTLY MODIFIED) VP.
PULLED BY 2007 DODGE RAM 1500

Since it is under the waterline...I would have it looked at by a professional before you get it wet again. I would also have someone check to make sure you did not have nay water intrusion.

I had a small hole awhile back. It was through the Gelcoat, and on the front edge of a chine.I saw brown fiberglass underneath. I got a 2 part white epoxy, filled it in. Cleaned it up and applied a thin layer of Gel coat out of a tube, smoothed it wet, with a wet tool to get it smooth. I have the boat on a trailer now for my 200hr service, and it still looks fine. I'll tell you what I used when I get home tonight.

Marine-Tex Epoxy
http://www.marinetex.com/marinetexepoxyputty.html

_________________
2006 300 Sundancer
2007 Trailblazer LT V8
2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G (For Sale)
Previous Boats:
2006 255 Sundowner 5.7GXI-G
2000 CrownLine 202BR
1994 Baja 180 Islander
1980 Galaxy 18' BR

just wanted to update a little bit. I pretty much did exactly as described here. I got some JB marine weld and filled the hole nice and tight, and let it dry for three day. man, does that stuff get super hard, be sure you get any excess epoxy off before it hardens. I didn't get it all off and short of grinding I don't think I could anymore. I then went over it with the marine-tex epoxy, looks pretty good. you can tell something was done but by no means does it stick out at all. haven't gotten it wet yet but I would imagine that it will be fine for a long time.

thanks to all that replied, and thanks to jeffk for the product.....

_________________
97 18' HORIZON 4.3L (JUST SLIGHTLY MODIFIED) VP.
PULLED BY 2007 DODGE RAM 1500