Anyone repair damage like this to a JetSki hull?

Tim Hancock · 08-10-2009, 09:38 AM

I went riding in Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay 2 weeks ago with some guys on new big supercharged Seas Doos. We rode nearly 100 miles.... most of it in 1-2' chop. I rode my old '96 Kawasaki ZXI 750 and had to keep it wide open a good pecentage of the time to keep up with their 40mph "cruise" speed on the choppy water. It literally beat the hell out of me (was sore as hell for 3 days following), but being an old MX racer, I soldiered on and stayed with them. Yesterday I planned on taking my wife and daughters to the local river to do a little Jetskiing in the 95 degree heat with our old SeaDoo and the Kawasaki and when putting the drain plug back in the Kawasaki, I found the whole jet pump/intake grate/ride plate was busted loose and hanging down about an inch. Most bolts were missing, a couple were broke off inside the engine compartment and several in several spots the potted nut style hard points had ripped loose from the hull.

After much head scratching and draining the fluids, I managed to get the boat flipped over and after roughening up the nut inserts, I will glue them back in with West System epoxy and maybe cap them with a few layers of fiberglass. I think this will work OK, but I have never tried repairing this SMC type construction.

Anyone ever do this type of repair before?

KevinP73 · 08-10-2009, 09:52 AM

Yep, used to do that to my X2 all the time. MarineTex is your friend in situations like that.

Tim Hancock · 08-10-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinP73

Yep, used to do that to my X2 all the time. MarineTex is your friend in situations like that.

Did the repairs hold or did you have to repeat the repairs?

stomachmonkey · 08-10-2009, 10:07 AM

In a lake boat.

Sank it in the sound three outings later.

But then again we were stupid and got caught in a squall with 3-5 chop and were slamming waves for about a half hour before the repair gave out.

We almost made it, sank about 50 feet from the ramp.

Tim Hancock · 08-10-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

In a lake boat.

Sank it in the sound three outings later.

But then again we were stupid and got caught in a squall with 3-5 chop and were slamming waves for about a half hour before the repair gave out.

We almost made it, sank about 50 feet from the ramp.

Did you use epoxy and was it a repair of threaded hard points or was it some other sort of large crack/hole damage?

stomachmonkey · 08-10-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Did you use epoxy and was it a repair of threaded hard points or was it some other sort of large crack/hole damage?

Was a long time ago but I believe yes, not threaded hard pointed, hole damage.

KevinP73 · 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Did the repairs hold or did you have to repeat the repairs?

It held for many a years of use/abuse. I've even used MarineTex on full penetration damage to hulls. Prep it well and follow the instructions very closely.

Tim Hancock · 08-10-2009, 10:24 AM

Thanks guys, I will do some research on Marinetex. If it is an epoxy system, I should be good to go with my West System marine epoxy system.

KevinP73 · 08-10-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Thanks guys, I will do some research on Marinetex. If it is an epoxy system, I should be good to go with my West System marine epoxy system.

I'm not real sure MarineTex is an epoxy. Here's a link to the product I used as found on West Marine's site.

Tim Hancock · 08-10-2009, 10:43 AM

I just checked it out.... it is an epoxy.

KevinP73 · 08-10-2009, 10:50 AM

I'd also suggest sandblasting the edges of those nutserts. Being polished like they are doesn't give them very much mechanical grip.

Tim Hancock · 08-10-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinP73

I'd also suggest sandblasting the edges of those nutserts. Being polished like they are doesn't give them very much mechanical grip.

Yep, I am going to turn grooves into them on the lathe, then sandblast them prior to inserting. I will also core out the bottom of the holes to gain additional glue anchoring.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Tim - I actually prefer laminating epoxy (a little thinner version of regular epoxy) vs marinetex in that type of repair. Fill the threads with candle wax - roughen up the edges of the holes and the nuts. Put some duct tape on the underside then fill the holes with laminating epoxy and let set overnight.

Regular epoxy would probably be OK too -

Tim Hancock · 08-10-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyD

Tim - I actually prefer laminating epoxy (a little thinner version of regular epoxy) vs marinetex in that type of repair. Fill the threads with candle wax - roughen up the edges of the holes and the nuts. Put some duct tape on the underside then fill the holes with laminating epoxy and let set overnight.

Regular epoxy would probably be OK too -

West system is pretty thin compared to many epoxies and I have used it to wet out glass layups in the past. I think I do have some thinner Pro Set laminating Epoxy left over from an airplane project however.

My main concern with this is whether repairs to SMC using epoxy resin is the proper technique. It sounds like it is after doing a bit more searching. It sounds like properly made epoxy repairs hold up on SMC boats where-as polyester resin based repairs on SMC do not.

Joeaksa · 08-10-2009, 03:01 PM

Tim, if anyone can do it, you could!

Dantilla · 08-10-2009, 06:29 PM

I think my airplane is in a pretty cool hangar until I see pictures of yours.

Tim Hancock · 08-11-2009, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantilla

I think my airplane is in a pretty cool hangar until I see pictures of yours.

Mine is actually turning into a disaster area. I got too many hobbies worth crap stored in it. I guess life could be worse though.

I roughened the stainless nut inserts in the lathe and sandblaster then plugged them with bolts wrapped in teflon tape. I potted them in with epoxy and then covered the whole affair with some doughnuts and strips of fiberglass cloth. I found some stainless metric bolts at Lowes to replace the missing ones. Hopefully it will be a permanent fix. I will sand the repair tonight and either squirt some paint on or maybe wax then "bed" the jet pump into place to cure again overnight.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

The lowes bolts are 304 and will rust a little - get 316 bolts from either west marine or jamestown distributors. But that looks like it will hold well.

Tim Hancock · 08-11-2009, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyD

The lowes bolts are 304 and will rust a little - get 316 bolts from either west marine or jamestown distributors. But that looks like it will hold well.

Thnaks for the heads up Jeremy. After a quick internet search it appears that 18-8 (304) stainless will be fine for my freshwater only use, but it looks like 316 is the only way to go if one will be boating in saltwater. I am 99.9% sure my old PWC's will never see saltwater.

Dantilla · 08-11-2009, 11:59 AM

Here's my hangar. Just the airplane, the 944 race car, and a refrigerator.

Yes, that's carpet under the airplane.