Questions about fiberglass on bow--yellow flakey

mkrautha · #1 (**permalink**) 06-17-2008

We are looking at an old Rhodes Meridan-- the price is right so we are going to forgo survey (the sails are worth the asking price).
Anyway, I tapping around on the hull and in all sounds solid. However I noticed that there is a 4 foot section on the centerline of the bow where a think layer of fiberglass is sort of chipping off and yellowing. It isn't dented or anything, but there is a small vertical line that runs some of the length and many small horizontal lines. No obvious pattern. The area is about two inches wide. My guess is that the boat rubbed in this area while in a slip. Sounding around on either side of the hull sounds solid. I haven't had a chance to check the forward from inside the cabin. I'd appreciate any thoughts and will post pictures when I get a chance.

Thanks,
Michael

mkrautha · #2 (**permalink**) 06-17-2008

Thoughts...

arbarnhart · #3 (**permalink**) 06-17-2008

It sounds like a repair that could have been done better, but I am guessing.

My clues:
The 2" vertical line could be fiberglass tape. 2" is a very common width for doing repairs.
If you don't wet out fiberglass tape properly, it will not be as rigid as the glass around it. This can cause cracking.
If the repair wasn't painted right away, UV would yellow the epoxy and it would flake.

sailaway21 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008

I looked at the photo and it looks like wear from riding to a mooring but I cannot tell for sure. The cracking would have my attention though, specifically how deep the cracks go.

I'm going to recommend that you do get a surveyor. Not because of the neglible value of the boat but for a realistic estimate of how much work, and the nature of that work, the boat needs. It's all well and good that the boat can be had for a song but, if it takes a symphony orchestra a year's work on overtime to make it right you could end up with an opus that's still only worth a song! How much do you really want to find out on your own, later, when you own the boat? Maybe later when you not only own the boat but either don't have the money to fix her and can't find anyone to get her even out of your driveway?

From the pics it doesn't look like that bad of wear but we'd really need more of a close-up to tell for sure, and maybe not then.