www.iFourWinns.com

I'm w/ these guys. Those would not stop me from boating.

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

I used my old Thompson with a HOLE in the upper deck covered by duct tape for a weekend. I like the clear packing tape idea over the scrapes to insure no water enters.

Good luck!

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Sorry to hear about this unfortunate incident. I also sometimes have a bit of trouble sleeping at night knowing that some serious wind could cause similar problems where I rent a slip. If nothing else, you've at least helped remind all of us to take a good hard look at the dock before leaving.



I'm confused by this. What do they mean by bad sections when they are cutting and replacing? Just gel coat or all of the fiberglass as well? If they are going to cut out a lot, I don't see how ANY solution you come up with would/could complicate the repair. So, assuming that to be true, have you considered some Bondo or similar filler material to at least get you through the season without the threat of water intrusion? I like the other ideas, too.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Those hits do not need to be cut out. The proper repair would be to grind down to solid glass that has no evidence of cracking or stress, fair out the grinding into the area around the damaged section. Clean it all up with acetone. Start laying in layers of fiberglass mat, cut to match the size of the spot as each layer comes closer to the surface. Only lay up two or three layers at a time and use a metal roller to work air and excess resin out. By the way, DO NOT use epoxy ... use polyester resin, so that the gel coat will adhere properly.

Once you are near the original fiberglass surface (before the gel coat), finish with two layers of chopped strand mat.

At this point, it's time to prep for the gel coat ..... another story.......

Anyway.............

Just use the tape to keep it sealed up until you can do the proper repair ..... don't do any stop-gap repairs, it will just screw up the real repair. I think the packing tape will be a better idea than typical duct tape, which starts to come apart when wet. Keep a roll on-board and reapply as required.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Hey thanks a lot. The scrapes won't need any cutting. The one large gouge has actually gone through the fiberglass so it will need serious clean up. I'll forward your suggestions to my body shop who does fiberglass. As I said before he's a client of mine and has been in the business for 30+ years. If he says he can do it right he will do it that way. I went ahead and ordered a new decal, factory black gelcoat, and even a bumper from my dealer today. He will do it for me next week so the tape will just have to last through the weekend.

Thanks for all your suggestions, only you guys can know what I'm going through.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

Oh, yeah...

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

Sorry about the damage, your plan sounds like a good one. I can identify with the feeling, in that when I winterized the boat back in 2005 I realized that the floor had major rot, worse than the small area I fixed a couple of years earlier. When I removed the seats and pulled up all the carpet, I could see the full extent of the damage, would up being a deck and stringer major repair. Discouraging at first but you accept it and move on. Good 'glass repairs can be unnoticable, the way I look at it is that it's just part of having a boat and I bought it to use it. I have an old boat that is kept on a rotating mooring so on the one hand I probably wouldn't even notice new minor scratches, but that damage would still be upsetting. The nice thing about the mooring is even in a pretty bad storm, the boat is free to move with the wind and waves and the bow is always into the wind and waves. So it is in a way safer than a slip in a storm. That is, until a boat breaks loose from its mooring which did happen to a neighbor once. He was doing some work on a house on the other side of the harbor and saw his old boat getting blown down the channel toward other boats. Believe it or not he was able to get a dinghy and catch up to it and stop it from hitting the bridge at the end of the harbor! Only a few gel coat chips from that adventure.

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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

Wow, that would be quite a feeling.

I've looked around and believe the slips I would use closer to home are wider than what I was in there. So the bungee coard straps look like a good answer. Strap that thing tight in the middle and away from the front and it should be fine. But honestly it's going on the trailer in the near future. Interested in a perm. slip at a marina but the cost of the lift coupled with the slip is a little daunting after what we dropped for the boat. Driveway it is for the moment then into winter storage where I can make a decision for next season.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

Hi-sorry about the troubles, hopefully future memories will be the ones that will stick with you and this will
soon be forgotten. There is a clear duct tape that seems to be much stronger than the packing tape. If you
are going that route try that. The center eisen glass on my 288 received some hail damage right near
the bottom where it joins the canvas. Used the tape to patch two small tears. We have had our
share of storms through here as well. (Toronto)
Regards,
Mike

I thought I would give you guys an update. I went ahead and turned in a claim to my insurance company (The Travelers -- Replacement cost policy) and got a call in a day from the adjuster.

Conversation went like this. "Tell me what happened."

"Oh that sounds horrible, have you taken it to the dealer?"

my response, "dealer doesn't do fiberglass during the summer but I have a guy who can do it right and next week."

"Ok, well order the parts you need and send me the invoices." Then email me the name of the shop and I'll have him send me before and after pictures and a bill." I'll cut you a check and you can get your boat fixed. If anything else comes up just call or email before you have to do anything so I can document the file."

So today I ordered the black gelcoat, new decals, bumper rails for pretty much the entire boat to include the stainless inserts. I want it fixed right and don't want to mess with it again. Invoice was $722 bucks so I emailed it to him with an explanation of why I needed all the pieces. Got an email back that said it was all warranted and if I wanted a check for that cut now or to wait until the labor.

This is the way it should be done!! Now to get it fixed and fixed right.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

Wow, I've never heard of insurance adjusters that willing to cut a check. Congrats to you and thumbs up to ins. co.

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2007 Four Winns 220SS (Sold!!)
2006 Toyota Tacoma

Be sure to pad that claim enough to pay for four new 8" fenders .

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

Done and Done..........thanks Chris!! Might also have to get that cover as well.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

Ok, and I thought I should possibly give a disclaimer. Being an insurance agent there were a few more words exchanged. The key for all you guys is to always let the adjuster know he's in charge. If you call demanding action you'll get problems. If you call the guy, tell him your story, and say these magic words. "Hey I know your busy and I don't want to be a huge pain in your ass, but it's boating season and I just need to get this fixed. You tell me exactly what and how you want this done and I'll do the leg work and get you everything you need if I can just get my boat fixed."

You will be amazed that most claims adjusters don't worry about the money, they worry about the audit they get twice a year on their files. As long as you play the game their way and get them the information you "should" have an easy time with claims. (If not you should find a different company. The key here is control, nobody wants to feel like they are not in control,. Give him what he needs and you will get what you want.......and then some usually.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"

Please note: As a licensed insurance agent and a representative of The Travelers Insurance and Marine company I would NEVER condone such activity......how dare you.

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2008 Four Winns 224 Funship 5.0 GXI/DP Black w/ Tower
2007 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed / Bose Ed.
2007 Fourwinns H180 (SOLD)

"There are no stupid questions, only stupid people"