Material for Attaching Spray Dodger to Hull

tsimpson

tsimpson

Member
Yesterday as I was doing some pre-season work to my bbsb, I discovered that the piece wood that I used to attach the spray dodge to the hull has started to rot. This is a piece of ash that I steam bent and then epoxied to the hull. The bottom of the piece was soft and wet. The good news is since there weren't any fasteners going through the hull, the cedar is fine. I was thinking of replacing it with some sort of plastic/nylon rectangular stock. Anyone have any experience or recommendations? Will epoxy bond to nylon? Can I paint it? Thanks!

Here is a pic of the problem area - you can see where I amputated the diseased section. I could splice in a new piece of wood, but the whole piece is now suspect and I want to do it right. I stripped the paint off the top of the rub rail looking for more rot, but it is fine.

Tom


 
What about using strips of marine ply that are epoxied together? Should be easy to bend, would keep its shape, and resistant to rot.

Rick
 
As you found out Ash is not very rot resistant. If I were to replace the board I would either use pine ,white oak or cedar. Cut thin strips 1/4 or less and laminate them together in the shape of the curve and then apply. Those woods are more rot resistant

From information I have found water vapor will penetrate epoxy but water can not. So the water vapor condenses inside and forms water droplet's which can not escape and the rot forms.

I would fasten as before but seal the wood other than epoxy and paint.
Moisture also could have gotten in by the snaps and then could not get out.
 
Tom, I used a main drive belt from a Woods Mower. The cross section is a rhombus (sp) so one short side follows the crown of the deck. It takes a screw nicely and I actually epoxied it to the deck. For snaps I used the twist kind attached to the long side of the cross section with 1/2" brass screws and I have not ha d a problem yet - boat is now 10 yo. Your fix does not seem too drastic. Replace the entire bow or just that piece, your choice. Did you ever get the 15 hp? We'll be at the DEC Show in Avon Sept 27. Take a drive w/ the family down rt 20. - Jim
 
Jim,

I am leaning towards something synthetic. My hardwoods guy suggested mahoganey, and I do have some, but I really don't want to steam it, only to have to do it over again in a few years. Where can I find a drive belt for a Woods Mower?

I did get the 15 and have dry fit it, but haven't put it all in the water yet. I was actually working on the trailer when I found this problem. There is still time.

We might just make the show at Avon. I was just there last weekend, sold one of 9.5 Evinrudes to Jesse Goodman's son Rob.

Tom
 
Tom, I have had really good luck bending strips of marine ply with dry heat from a heat gun. Then glue/ epoxy the next stip to it. Makes a really strong coaming that has a nice curve to it.
 
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