www.iFourWinns.com

So I was looking at a few spots on the chines that need to be filled in eventually and noticed that the gelcoat has rubbed off on the keel. I am assuming becasue it has been beached for the last 20 years. So my question is for now do I get a keelguard to protect the fiberglass?

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Woah, yeah, that's been beached a few times.

Before you put a keel guard on that, I would take care of sealing up that fibreglass. It looks like it has worn into the glass strands. Sorry, I am no expert on that, but I would say that the damage to the keel needs to be sealed/ repaired first. A coat of epoxy resin before the keel guard maybe?

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

+1, I'd have that repaired properly, and then put a keel guard on it.

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

What he said. I'm curious though, how did it get THAT bad without someone noticing it? Freshwater slipped or something?

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

That is the question and it extends far enough down the keel that I think it could be from loading. i will check the keel roller when I get the boat off. I didn't notice it until I was down underneath looking at the chines. I don't remember it being like that when I bought it and theguys who worked on it never said a thing. I have emailed the pics two a few fiberglass repair people and they said it is not that bad and to fix it when I have time. Not sure what is up.

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Wow - that is alot of wear -you need to find a good fiberglass guy

As far as repairing it, it really isn't half as bad as it looks (based on what's in the pictures at least). A good 'glass guy can take care of that better than new. Sure doesn't look like roller damage to me, though. Too many longitudinal scratches higher up on the hull, plus the chipped chines. Survey says, "gravel."

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

Could be. This boat was origninaly from las vegas and lake mead has some rough shelfs they may have beached it on.

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Todd I'd definitely get that fixed before putting it back in the water. I don't believe there is any coring in the hull to worry about but still you don't want moisture in the laminate. We never beach our boats here, the beaches are pretty rocky at anything but high tide....The other thing is that the way the hull is constructed, the bottom of the ski locker and gas tank compartment has a piece of plywood glassed in and you don't want moisture getting into that space...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

bump....

Bump....

I would start with these guys.........they not only do that kind of work..they sell the materials and most if not all of the other guys around here buy their materials from them......


http://www.crystaliner.com
1626 Placentia Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 548-5623

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2005 Four Winns Funship 214 VP 5.7/Duo Prop

My philosophy on gel coat is......if you don't like how it turns out.......you can always sand it off and try again.....nothing ventured nothing gained.......


If I was doing it for the first time........I would watch as many youtube videos as I can watch.........then I would go to Crystaliner and tell the counter guy that you are a novice and they will guide you through the process step by step and recommend the proper materials.......

The worse that can happen is you waste a $100 bucks or less in material........besides, gel coat is very forgiving.......

Good luck!

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2005 Four Winns Funship 214 VP 5.7/Duo Prop

Easy as pie to do yourself!
I reckon a litre of white flowcoat, MEKT and a small foam paint roller will have that looking like new.
No need to pay someone to do what Ray Charles could do, with his eyes open.

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS