Anyone know what I should expect for a GRP repair? Pictures attached

Daydream believer said:
It is not an easy repair. the rubbing strip needs to be removed back for a few feet then the corner needs to be re formed . this is not the same as filling a dent. I might ask if the OP does actually have the skills. . It need bonding & fairing & finishing in the correct colour. Then the rubbing strip needs re fitting. Possibly a SS strip bent round the corner to support the repair might be included.
I certainly do not think that Just stuffing a load of isopon in the area is really the right way to go about it.
Then there is the painting. Awlgrip paint is not cheap . The whole area to the bow will need doing. That involves a lot of preparation prior to application.
If the OP does not have the skill set, Not to say the extensive time & facilities required than he is going to either leave as is, or bite the bullet.
First thing to do might be to move it near to home for starters. A boat miles away tends to be a liability to someone with limited time or fixed holidays.
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Without wishing to denigrate the OPs boat it is a 50 year old boat in shall we say average appearance / condition for it’s age. Any yard repair is going to stick out like a sore thumb and whilst not being totally inappropriate it is OTT. He is far better taking care of it himself the repairs both temporary and permanent are not beyond the average diy capability and apart from the hull paintwork will not be detrimental nor observable. Which brings us to the hull repair the quarter damage is relatively inconsequential. The hull very much depends on how deep the abrasion is and has it penetrated the gel coat and removed any matting. If it has the very least that needs to be done in the short term is to stop water penetrating into the structure which can be done by painting on a thick gel coat which whilst not pretty will do a job. Further repairs would involve grinding back layering a few patches of matting the fairing, gel coating and painting, all diy stuff.
 
Fr J Hackett said:
Without wishing to denigrate the OPs boat it is a 50 year old boat in shall we say average appearance / condition for it’s age. Any yard repair is going to stick out like a sore thumb and whilst not being totally inappropriate it is OTT. He is far better taking care of it himself the repairs both temporary and permanent are not beyond the average diy capability and apart from the hull paintwork will not be detrimental nor observable. Which brings us to the hull repair the quarter damage is relatively inconsequential. The hull very much depends on how deep the abrasion is and has it penetrated the gel coat and removed any matting. If it has the very least that needs to be done in the short term is to stop water penetrating into the structure which can be done by painting on a thick gel coat which whilst not pretty will do a job. Further repairs would involve grinding back layering a few patches of matting the fairing, gel coating and painting, all diy stuff.
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It looks to me as if the major loss is to the deck moulding where it is folded over the blue hull. A half decent repair should not be overly difficult for the owner to do, as described above, and if nothing else will be a useful learning experience.
 
Wansworth said:
It’s surprising how even simple jobs can cost once a boat is in the grasp of a yard not that they maybe dishonest but on a time sheet just getting out a ladder and pulling back a cover costs.In a Spanish yard they where very putout that the owner complained about the simple task of checking the batteries that where on the boat on the slip.Everything costs.A proper job may well cost more than you think it’s worth but it’s unlikely they are turning work away buy over chargeing
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By the time the professional has hauled the boat out, setup working platform, paid for storage etc, it will eat up a grand very easily. And that's before any actual work has been undertaken. Factor in his time and the material cost is a small part of the fix. Also very hard for anyone to make a sound estimate on being sent a photograph.
 
northwind said:
By the time the professional has hauled the boat out, setup working platform, paid for storage etc, it will eat up a grand very easily. And that's before any actual work has been undertaken. Factor in his time and the material cost is a small part of the fix. Also very hard for anyone to make a sound estimate on being sent a photograph.
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True, but it is all I have right now myself, and the boatyard in question told me it is absolutely inadvisable to put the boat out to a mooring like this and their rough estimate was multiple thousands at least straight away. So if people say it is bit of a job but not anywhere near that, especially to just protect her from further damage, then I don't feel like I trust that boatyard very much now. I am not trying to bad mouth them, but I hope you see why I ask for a second (and third) opinion.

Even if it is badly chipped, I think if they just make it watertight with ducttape or some epoxy should be sufficient either way and doesn't need to be repaired on the spot.


alahol2 said:
Are the gudgeons/pintles on that rudder OK? Can't quite make out what I'm looking at...
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From what I can say they should be fine. But I also only look at a picture.
 
If the boat is structurally sound elsewhere, then even doing nothing to that transom damage would stop me sailing it, let alone putting it on a mooring. What are you expecting will happen? A cupfull of water when it rains? The bilge pump would not even operate for that. Looking at the state of the boat there are probably more leaks through windows & deck fittings than that damage. You could just smear a bit of sica over the join to seal it, if you are worried . Then do the job properly later on.
The trouble is that the job - if done properly- has to be done in stages. That would take up a sizeable chunk of holiday if wanting to avoid lots of weekend travelling. It will also involve laying up on the hard & some means of keeping the temperature up. So winter work in the damp is out.
I do not know where you are & where the boat is; but the 2 of you need to get together first.
Best bet is to get it on ebay ASAP
 
Daydream believer said:
If the boat is structurally sound elsewhere, then even doing nothing to that transom damage would stop me sailing it, let alone putting it on a mooring. What are you expecting will happen? A cupfull of water when it rains? The bilge pump would not even operate for that. Looking at the state of the boat there are probably more leaks through windows & deck fittings than that damage. You could just smear a bit of sica over the join to seal it, if you are worried . Then do the job properly later on.
The trouble is that the job - if done properly- has to be done in stages. That would take up a sizeable chunk of holiday if wanting to avoid lots of weekend travelling. It will also involve laying up on the hard & some means of keeping the temperature up. So winter work in the damp is out.
I do not know where you are & where the boat is; but the 2 of you need to get together first.
Best bet is to get it on ebay ASAP
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I don't plan on selling it. Sure, it looks a little rough right now, but I got all the spare parts for windows etc and that was on my list of things to do once I am finally there. I wanted to be in Scotland (where that boat it) by May already but things didn't work out like I wanted. C'est la vie.

And yeah, as I said. The boatyard made it sound like its impossible to put it on the mooring with the current damage when I asked them to just move it there, and then I wasn't sure what to think and was afraid I underestimate the damage and came here. I think they just want the contract now that there is an opportunity. Probably like a car mechanic, you come in for an oil change and they find 3005459 other things that are expensive but absolutely necessary to fix. My guess.
 
Am I correct in thinking the hull has been painted at some time? If it had then the hull damage in the later photo is not major, a bit of work with wet and dry, possibly a small degree of filler work in any deep gouges then re-paint.
The damage to the stern is what I would class as a b****y a nuisance but not drastic, and a reasonably competent DIY person should be able to make a very acceptable repair.
I think daydream believers comment in #46 ( ‘get it on eBay ASAP’) is a bit harsh, but of course it depends upon how ‘attached’ to this particular boat, I had to make a much more serious repair to a previous boat where delamination had occurred in the hull/ deck join, through long term water ingress , repair took some time and effort but looked good in the end.
 
Perhaps if you live in the South, and you want the boat there eventually, the best solution might be to invest the money in a lorry transfer closer to where you live. The lift out fee will be needed anyway, and the boat can be safely taken to where you can inspect properly and give some needed TLC.
If can DIY the repairs at leisure, will recoup the cost of the lorry transport. Many on here have recommended John Shepherd for boat transport to/from Scotland.
 
DangerousPirate said:
I don't plan on selling it. Sure, it looks a little rough right now, but I got all the spare parts for windows etc and that was on my list of things to do once I am finally there. I wanted to be in Scotland (where that boat it) by May already but things didn't work out like I wanted. C'est la vie.

And yeah, as I said. The boatyard made it sound like its impossible to put it on the mooring with the current damage when I asked them to just move it there, and then I wasn't sure what to think and was afraid I underestimate the damage and came here. I think they just want the contract now that there is an opportunity. Probably like a car mechanic, you come in for an oil change and they find 3005459 other things that are expensive but absolutely necessary to fix. My guess.
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The other factor is perhaps the boatyard don’t want to be responsible for putting an uninsured boat onto a mooring with the owner not present, as if anything breaks and the boat comes off a mooring they might be held liable.
Are you sure that a brief trip to Helensburgh is impossible? Yes trains are a bit iffy at present, but they are running most days, or it is an easy weekend round trip by car (done the other way MANY times in a weekend). Alternatively a good book and a bus ticket. Or plenty of flights to Glasgow, could even do there and back the same day, at a price.
 
I have just had a look at the pictures enlarged and really there is nothing there that is alarming not quite in the "it'll buff out" category but nothing to worry about even the hull has only a small area where the Gell coat has been compromised. Some deep scratches that will need to eventually ground back and new gel coat applied, faired and painted it could be done virtually any time the boat is out of the water if needs be under a tarp. The quarter damage looks a bit odd in how the deck is made, it doesn't look as though it is a conventional laid up "lid" I would be tempted to cut it back and let in an L shaped piece of wood bonded with thickened epoxy overlay with a couple of layers of matting then gel coat and brush painted, it will be sound but show up as a repair just as the hull repair will but only the OP can answer as to how much that bothers him in the long term. The only other answer in that respect is to rub down the entire hull and paint it again not an impossible job best done under cover and there are plenty of immaculate looking hand / brush painted boats out there.
Seal up the damage, sail it to where you are going to keep it and haul out and get on with the work when you can, it sounds as though you have a bit more work to do anyway which is no surprise with a 50 year old boat. There is nothing to stop you sailing that boat until the end of the season unless there is more damage than the photos show.
 
sarabande said:
I am sure we can organise someone with DIY skills from the forum in the Helensburgh area to go and have a look,, take some photos and even put a GRP patch on.

Let's see if the forum can give you a bit of support.
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What we need is a Dr if anyone is going to apply a GRP poultice, I wonder if there is such a person living in or near Helensburgh :whistle: ;)?
 
Poignard said:
Perhaps the repair price is based on the assumption that you will claim on your insurance?
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Getting insurance on an old boat is becoming increasingly difficult. I had an email from a comparison site (actually a broker) today reminding me that my insurance was due for renewal - I had got quotes from them last year for my Bavaria. Then they were falling over themselves to get my business, but I entered the details for my GH and reply was "34 providers declined to quote".

I do have all risks insurance already at a reasonable premium through Topsail but it did require a bit of negotiation and of course a survey. suspect my lack of claims since the early 90s had something to do with it.
 
Tranona said:
Getting insurance on an old boat is becoming increasingly difficult. I had an email from a comparison site (actually a broker) today reminding me that my insurance was due for renewal - I had got quotes from them last year for my Bavaria. Then they were falling over themselves to get my business, but I entered the details for my GH and reply was "34 providers declined to quote".

I do have all risks insurance already at a reasonable premium through Topsail but it did require a bit of negotiation and of course a survey. suspect my lack of claims since the early 90s had something to do with it.
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I'm not sure a comparison site is the best place for anything out of the ordinary. It's the same with trying to insure an old car or a campervan. If the big firms' proposal forms don't have appropriate boxes to tick, they can't cope; and don't want to. It's the low -hanging fruit they want!

My Twister is 55 years old and is kept in France, I had no trouble insuring her with Noble Marine Ltd (arranged by a broker Richard Walton-Gould) when my previous insurer, East Coast Mutual Yacht Insurance Association, packed up.
 
sarabande said:
I am sure we can organise someone with DIY skills from the forum in the Helensburgh area to go and have a look,, take some photos and even put a GRP patch on.

Let's see if the forum can give you a bit of support.
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That would be amazing if someone could help me out like that. But I think the boatyard is already doing that, as I have discussed the issue with them already and laid open that I want the boat on the mooring without any reparations carried out other than taping it off or similar, as suggested here. I am waiting for a mail back regarding that though.

About going: I am going asap and not just because of the damage now, only a matter of days/weeks, just uncertain when exactly. I have plans with the boat, I wanted to fix the window (all parts are on the boat already, just an afternoons work), get a dinghy and install ball bearing sail slides with a track to make it easier on my own and then off to Belfast and down south.

The insurance thing is that I called and emailed and filled out many forms, but no one wants to give me anything other than third party coverage. Some insurance companies agree to consider it after a full survey. But nothing I can just sign overnight and get it done.

For now, I think, there is nothing than waiting for a response from the boatyard.
 
Calm down now folks. This an easy DIY fix and can be done to a good standard. Even on a mooring. dome worse myself. If you think about it a lot of bigger repairs are easy DIY jobs on boats. All depends on how a perfect job you want done. Even Gel coat natch can be done.

If the OP needs a any advice just message me and ill help all i can but for coming to do it for you. A lot of folk stress and go OTT when repairs are needed to be done.
 
waynes world said:
Calm down now folks. This an easy DIY fix and can be done to a good standard. Even on a mooring. dome worse myself. If you think about it a lot of bigger repairs are easy DIY jobs on boats. All depends on how a perfect job you want done. Even Gel coat natch can be done.

If the OP needs a any advice just message me and ill help all i can but for coming to do it for you. A lot of folk stress and go OTT when repairs are needed to be done.
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This might happen. You'll notice a red pop up in your upper right corner lol

But I was just more freaked out due to the boatyards reaction than when I initially saw it. It was just this dramatising that got to me. Now I understand grannies, who sign anything from a canvasser at the door, a little better :S
 
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