Fiberglass Repair - Cracked Console

[fmoore]

Before I bring this in to get fixed, I was hoping for a couple opinions.

Do you guys think the t top needs to be takn completely off to fix this or can it be done by just unscrewing this one spot? I can't take the whole top off, but I can repair the crack if it's possible to do it withought taking the whole top off.

Any opinions?

Thanks
Fintan

[jawz12]

the top will need to be removed...looks like the console will need to be backed up in that area...

[fmoore]

That's what I was afraid of. May as well back up the other side as well. Thanks

[jawz12]

adding a back up for the other side would be an excellent idea...

that repair,you're gonna have to grind out the entire area,rebuild it with matting,then laminate in a section of "core",to the inside of the console...personally,i like 3/4" marine grade plywood,laminated with a mix of west system epoxy and 403 additive,after it all kicks,cover the area in matting...

[fmoore]

Thanks. Looks like a project for sure. Maybe I can figure a way to get that top off.

Any ideas for getting a t top that's through bolted to the deck off a boat with no under deck access in that area short of cutting a few big ass holes. Guess I'll make sure there are no obstructions then cut a nice big hole in the deck and add a deck plate on both sides

[clt_capt]

It looks like the gelcoat cracks extend a god way away from the actual crack - pretty sure sign that there is flexing there.

You are probably gonna want to extend your repair - especially the backing reinforcement well beyond the crack at the T-Top mount...

[clt_capt]

Thanks. Looks like a project for sure. Maybe I can figure a way to get that top off.

Any ideas for getting a t top that's through bolted to the deck off a boat with no under deck access in that area short of cutting a few big ass holes. Guess I'll make sure there are no obstructions then cut a nice big hole in the deck and add a deck plate on both sides

You could drill out the bolts from the top.

If your boat has foam below deck, you may be ripping a bunch of that out if you cut big deck holes...

[fmoore]

Well, I guess the problem is not getting the bolts out, but getting them back in. I could see from a deck plate located in the stern that there is no foam down there, at least none that would get in the way. Boat no longer means break out another thousand. Now it means break out another weekend. Sometimes I wish I didn't know how to do this stuff, or at least not have the ambition.

[swkicknfishn]

Instead of taking the TTop off, you might could grind the welds on the plates off and after you are done with the repair weld the plates back in place. Sounds like alot of work but removing the TTop might open up a whole new can of worms with reattaching the TTop. GOOD LUCK.

[PipeDreamsMarine]

Instead of taking the TTop off, you might could grind the welds on the plates off and after you are done with the repair weld the plates back in place. Sounds like alot of work but removing the TTop might open up a whole new can of worms with reattaching the TTop. GOOD LUCK.

Ahh you don't want to do that. The heat from rewelding the pads will blister and burn the glass.