hollow lifting strakes?

[overhere...]

I am rebuilding a fiberglass chris craft and noticed while working on the hull that the lifting strakes seem to be hollow. The main part of the hull glass is rounded and where the final thin layer of glass makes up the outer layer is squared off it is hollow in that small corner. Question- Has anyone ever seen that before?My other chris craft project the strakes are solid. Do you think I could drill some small holes and inject resin into the opening to fill it making it solid. Any thoughts on this from you guys would be appreciated.

[jrzcape]

Overhere
what you have is a air void between the skin coat and the heavier fiberglass cloth and is fairly common. when applying the heavier fiberglass in tight radius the heavy material does not bend easy and does not like to stay in place untill the resin cures. it has little effect on strength and is more cosmetic however it needs to be fixed,water can enter and cause deterioration or could freeze. the proper repair would be to grind all the air voids and build up with fiberglass however you
may be able to fill the voids as you said. i would ues epoxy.
Wayne

[overhere...]

Thanks for the reply- If I grind out the "corners" of the strakes, should I build up the area with a putty type filler to get a squared edge and then lay fiberglass cloth or mat over that for strength? The outer layer is very thin material,I doubt it has much strength so would the putty be strong enough to stay in place without covering it with glass cloth or mat? If I went the injection route,what type of epoxy would you use? By the way-your boats are awesome,works of art.

[Bligh]

No fail way would be as wayne said. Grind out thin skin coat or possibly gel coat only if they are really badly constructed. Mix west epoxy only paint in cleaned out void and then mix in cabisil or west thickening agent.Fill void let dry 24 hrs then start grinding. Finish with epoxy and it will be stronger than original. ALMOST as strong and well built as a Jersey cape 36. Wayne and I thank you for the compliment.

[Questsportfishing]

a bunch of boat builders and development boats had to deal with 'where to put strakes' due to steering , ride, wave lift, and some spray rails to even smart rails are sometimes hollow.