Toolbox - Repairing a Chine on a Drift Boat

I was cleaning up my Hyde drift boat after fishing the other day and noticed a bad ding on one of the chines. I had purchased the boat used from a private party and it had a couple of areas where the gel coat had been popped off along the chines. The biggest one was about a inch long. What I found was that I had an area that has grown to about 3 inches long with the fiberglass core exposed. I decided that I'd better get it fixed or fix it myself.

I started by doing an Internet search and low and behold I found a You Tube video put out by TAP plastics that showed how to go about repairing a damaged gel coat. This gives you a good insight to the process. This video shows a repair using "Gel Coat" material for repairs which is for primarily cosmetic repairs where the fiberglass is not exposed.

Gel Coat Repairs





Structural Repairs using "Goop-Supermend"

I also sent an email to Hyde Driftboats in Idaho Falls, Idaho and described my problem. They responded by saying that they recommended using a two part epoxy that is made by TAP Plastics called "Goop- Supermend", which is a putty-like epoxy for doing a chine repair. This product and application is slightly different than the process shown on the videos above.


One thing to point out is that the "Goop-Supermend" is a two part epoxy product and is not compatible with a "gel coat finish" You tint the "Goop-Supermend" to the color of the gel coat. You sand it to blend it in and you are done.






There are two TAP Plastics stores in Sacramento and I stopped by to pick up the necessary materials for the repair. A customer service person helped me figure out what I needed and how to go about the repair. This is the list of materials that I purchased for about $40;

• Goop-Supermend Epoxy 16 ounces - $24.00
• Mylar film - $5.60
• Tap Plastics - Super Pigment white color $6.40
• 1- 16 once plastic cup with ounce measurements - free
• 2- 100 ml plastic cups with ml measurements - free
• 4 - wooden sticks (large popsicle sticks 1/2" x 5" long) - free

In addition I'll need to pick up the following items;

• Blue masking tape
• Acetone
• Wet/Dry sandpaper from 150 to 600 in graduations
• Sanding block
• Plastic Putty knife
• Vapor rated dust mask
• Disposable rubber gloves
• Beg, borrow or steal a Dremmel tool.

I'll outline the basic steps as told to me by Tap Plastics. Once again, this is not a gel coat system it is a two-part epoxy repair material.
(1) Prepare the damaged area by grinding off all loose areas and sharp edges of the repair with a Dremmel tool or rough sandpaper or both. You want to remove any lose material to enable a solid bond with the Goop=Supermend epoxy.
(2) Clean the prepared area with acetone rubbing in one direction. Do not use a circular motion.
(3) Take the two 100ml plastic cups and pour one part of the epoxy into one cup and the equal amounts of the second part into the other in equal amounts. The epoxy has a thickness to it so use the wooden sticks to get it to level in the cups and make sure that you have equal amounts.
(4) Slowly add the white Super Pigment into each cup in equal amounts until you have the desired color to match your gel coat.
(5) Mix the two epoxy parts into the larger 16 ounce plastic cup. You now have 15 minutes to make your repair.
(6) Use a plastic putty knife to place the epoxy. Attempt to smooth out the epoxy slighly higher than the desired shape of the repair.
(7) Cut a piece of the mylar film and place it over the repair. Use one of the plastic sticks to do the final smoothing of the repair (Refer to video). You will be running the wooden stick over the mylar not the epoxy. Note: To use the mylar you will have to target smaller areas at a time to have enough working time.
(8) Remove the mylar once the epoxy cures.
(9) Let the epoxy cure for 5 hours and the use a sanding block and sand the repair with successive grits of sandpaper. Remember to use your mask.
(10) Add more "Goop-Supermend" if required and repeat the process.
Let your repair cure for 24 hours before abusing it again.
Hope this was helpful, Clay

Swamp Thing Progress

I've been working on the "Swamp Thing" recently getting it ready to chase stripers later in the month. I've ordered a new Lowrance HD - 7 Gen 2 fish finder and rigged it up. This model has 'GPS' and 'Chart Plotting' capabilities. Here's what it looks like mounted in place.

I've also installed the Lowrance Structure Scan module that gives me side scanning ability. It is an add on with a separate unit. It's mounted underneath the steering column. I had to run two cables to the back of the boat for the fish finder transducer and another for the Sidefinder. Here they are mounted on a transom plate.

I had to run two cables from the units to the stern for the sonar transducer and the Structure scan. They are two separate units that came with the fish finder and Structure Scan module. I mounted them on a transom plate on the stern.

I also mounted a Minn Kota 12 volt, 55 pound thrust bow mounted trolling motor at the bow. I manufactured a 1/4" aluminum plate at the bow to mount it. 

I also mount oar stands to be able to row the boat if and when I want to. Here's what one of them looks like.

So the boat is pretty much ready to go once I figure out how to operate the fish finder and structure scan anyway. Something to go and play around with. Hopefully soon.

The Swamp Thing

This is the new addition to the Fly Fishing Traditions fleet, "The Swamp Thing". It traveled all the way from Donighan, Michigan to make its home here in Northern California. As you probably have heard I'm selling my 13' 4" Boston Whaler Sport to make room for it. The whaler is in the shop right now getting the chines re-worked and a new coat of epoxy marine paint on the entire bottom. I'm also stripping out all the Philipine Mahogany wood work and refinishing it. When I'm done it will be almost completely restored. I decided to do it right!

The Swamp Thing is a 16' 1982 Lowe Roughneck. It's been around the block, the paints pretty tarnished but I rubbed it out and it looks a lot better. I've ordered some factory "Lowe" paint and I'll give it a new coat later this summer, but you know how that goes.

The controls are in the right front position and it has 3 other seats. It's got a live well, not that I'll be using it, a carpeted platform at the bow with a receptor for the post and seat. The main section is carpeted.

Here's a shot of the storage under the bow and the carpeted deck. The seat mounts in the bracket.














Here's a shot of the captain's seat with the controls. The motor also has a power tilt function that is on the shifter. There is also controls on the motor itself. It works!

The best thing about this boat, other that the fact it is a jet sled, is that it's got an Envirude factory Jet Pump. The motor is a V-4 which is known for its dependability. It's a 90 horsepower that delivers 65 hp through the jet pump. The motor is a 1993 that has very little hours on it. My marine mechanic, Steve Cyr, from Float Your Boats believes it has less that 40 hours on it.

I didn't hardly sleep last night anticpating meeting Steve to fire the motor up. He had me pull the plugs, squirt WD40 in each cylinder (it's a 4 cylinder) and let it sit for at least 2 hours. Then I cranked it over without the plugs in it to spit out the WD40. I put the plugs back in and headed to Scotts Flat Lake this morning to meet him.

When we got there he pulled the plugs again and cranked it one more time, to make sure I'd got enough of the WD40 out. He then squirted some starting fluid in each cylinder and we put the plugs back in. I attached the gas line and we crossed our fingers. It popped immediately which was from the starting fluid. I tried it again and hit the electric choke and it started after a couple of bumps. Steve kept pumping the gas line to ensure all the air was out of the line and when it warmed up it just purred. Steve pushed me off and I moved outside of the 5 mph zone and opened it up. It jumped up on plane and it flew. Fast that is. This surprised me a bit. It seemed as fast as my whaler. I took a few turns to see how it handled and it just slides through the turns. That's a jet pump.

So I guess this boat buying experience is one with a happy ending. Buying an ebay boat by relying on pictures and asking question is and was nerve racking. Especially when it was in Missouri. I had it hauled here by uship. All in all it was just a leap of faith. Looks like this time it payed off.