Best way to core and fiberglass curved edge

[Boatr]

I am looking to purchase and restore an old boat. The bridge deck is spongy, and needs repaired.

I plan to cut/peel the skin off the flat portions of the wet deck (probably too cracked to repair)

I am not sure how I should tackle the curved edges (see pics). How should I cut this out? What is the best way to core the curved edge?
.

 

[gonzo]

Are you sure the curved area is cored? Usually only the flat surfaces get a core for stiffness.

 

[wet feet]

As Gonzo says,the curved areas are unlikely to be cored.The exception would be if Coremat was used.

 

[TANSL]

Excuse me, why only with Coremat?

 

[wet feet]

Because if there is a uniform core throughout the panel,there isn't much else that would follow those shapes.

 

[TANSL]

Maybe it's nonsense, but can't you put something like strips from another core material?

 

[Boatr]

It's my understanding that it is balsa core. The boat is early 1980s

 

[Blueknarr]

By purchase- you mean given
Or better yet given old boat and cash.

Can you provide pictures of underside of curved area.

If only flat areas were cored, then the edge of coring should be apparent.

One can always drill a small inspection hole to determine core material.

Core can be cut into trapezoidal strips. But is unlikely on production boat with tight radius.

 

[fallguy]

You are putting the cart before the horse a bit.

Remove the bad material. If you find a curved core; the best way to make a new core to match is to purchase contour scrim, or you can rip foam into strips and build a small male mould.

But as others have stated, that may not be foam there; so if all you have is checked gelcoat; it is only a gelcoat repair, so don't remove solid glass.

Remove only that which falls apart easily at first.

 

[fallguy]

You can also spot repair the areas. It is impossible for us to tell from here the extent of delamination, but if you only have sections of delamination; you would only remove the bad areas. This may leave some spots of repair. Once you determine if there is indeed a core; you would order that thickness which you need and lay pieces back in and prefair and then taper grind to good glass and glass over.

But, all speculation until you show us what is truly delaminated..or if only old gelcoat repairs needed

If you zoom in on my avatar of a transom steps on a catamaran; you might be able to see the rounded deck at the top. That was made on a simple jig with 1" wide strips of core.

 

[wet feet]

Maybe it's nonsense, but can't you put something like strips from another core material?

If I put on my pedant's hat then I would concede that it is theoretically possible to add narrow strips of core material to those curves.If I remove said hat and switch to my realist's hat I would conclude that in a production environment,the laminators would be saying unkind words about the person who specified it.

 

[TANSL]

Understood. It's possible but it is not practical. Thank you, now you can put on the hat of Mr. Laminator.