1990 searay 310 tunnel shaft area. Today while sanding bottom I noticed where the shaft enters the boat small 2" Inch crack in fiberglass. Has any one else seen this ? Any one else had that issue ? Looks to be on both sides. Looks like I will be grinding it out to see whats under it .
Found crack New entry of shafts searay 310
- Thread starter Jimcen
- Start date
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,153
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
This is not very common but it has happened.
After the hull comes out of the mold, one of the next things that happens is the shaft tube is installed. It is a pre-cast fiberglass tube that is then glassed into the bottom of the boat. Part of the operation is finishing off the inner and outer areas where the shaft tube joins the actual hull with a putty called cabosil made from resin and silica powder. If the area is too thick, it can crack because t he coefficient of expansion is different between cabosil and fiberglass.
The fix is simple: Grind the area down to the fiberglass and replace the putty with resin and fiberglass mat (cloth). Unfortunately, the shaft is going to need to be removed so you can get the joint between the shaft tube and the hull.
After the hull comes out of the mold, one of the next things that happens is the shaft tube is installed. It is a pre-cast fiberglass tube that is then glassed into the bottom of the boat. Part of the operation is finishing off the inner and outer areas where the shaft tube joins the actual hull with a putty called cabosil made from resin and silica powder. If the area is too thick, it can crack because t he coefficient of expansion is different between cabosil and fiberglass.
The fix is simple: Grind the area down to the fiberglass and replace the putty with resin and fiberglass mat (cloth). Unfortunately, the shaft is going to need to be removed so you can get the joint between the shaft tube and the hull.
Frank,
Thanks for your response. By looking at I just thought it was a gelcoat crack . Sounds like it’s not and I need to do a fiberglass repair. Would water enter ? could I grind it and use epoxy like a marine Tex mixture filler ? I have a mechanic coming today to look at it . I think it was like this for a couple of seasons dont see any leaking ..
Thanks jim
Thanks for your response. By looking at I just thought it was a gelcoat crack . Sounds like it’s not and I need to do a fiberglass repair. Would water enter ? could I grind it and use epoxy like a marine Tex mixture filler ? I have a mechanic coming today to look at it . I think it was like this for a couple of seasons dont see any leaking ..
Thanks jim
- Oct 31, 2009
- 3,455
- Boat Info
- 1992 370 ec
- Engines
- twin cummins 6bta's 300 hp
Rl80 pathfinder radar/chartplotter,SH 2150 matrix vhf w/ais
quicksilver 8
S fergeson had similar issue a few years ago.there is an extensive thread about the repairs searay made to his boat,i just cant find it for you.