Last week Pymatuning Reservoir flooded, with the water rising up to 16 inches above summer pool level. This floated the catamarans on the beach, and somehow, it seems a piece of debris sliced the hull just aft of the center. When approaching the boats to move them to higher ground I did not see the damage, and the first image, I have put the Cat Trax under the boat to bring it up on shore. You can see a 13.5' kayak floating free behind the boat. I kept two kayaks under the boat never expecting they would be afloat.
Here is the damage, behind the Cat Trax wheels below the 5.7 decal. The hull was pushed in and sliced moving forward. This was sitting underwater.
After grinding and re-aligning the repair, it was obviously repairable. Yesterday I got 5-layers of epoxy saturated woven glass on the repair on the inside of the hull, and 2-layers on the outside. This image is after the first layer of West 407 fairing, followed by sanding and a second layer of West 410 microspheres in epoxy. This image shows the first layer before sanding
Today, everything was sanded down, and I got the first coat of Interlux Primekote primer on. I will do my best to get a good appearance with Interlux Perfection Arctic White to match the boat, but I will inevitably have a line from the new paint since this is just a patch. I don't know if I'll bother to paint the hull later, but at least I'll be back on the water later this week.
that sucks!
glad it wasn't too bad
good job on the fast repair
MN3
I got lucky that the damage was right below my access port.
I wouldn’t bother painting an entire hull. If it shows up, it’s just a battle scar.
E C Hilliard
Nacra 5.7
Bombardier Invitation
I have a few of those, but this one will be smooth, if it doesn't completely blend. The speed this repair happened is just testament to how many times I have had to do it before.
The first of 2-coats of Interlux Perfection is on the repair as well as some minor repairs at the rudders and along the bottom of the hulls. I am amazed how well this is blending. From 1-foot away, I can't see where the new paint begins and the old stuff ends.
