Hi guys,
I'm doing a repair on a Spacesailer and I've got a split on the gunwale rubber.
It seems a shame to repair the whole thing. Does anyone have any experience or ideas on repairing this? I believe it's a PVC one.
Much appreciated
See here article recommending 3M 5200 or Sika 291; realise you ae doing a butt joint which is different to the article text. 5200 is very strong and available in a tube for about $22. Clean with acetone before glueing.
www.boataccessoriesaustralia.com.au/blog/our-blog/how-to-install-gunwale-with-sealant/
shop.classic-boat-supplies.com.au/boat-building-maintenance/adhesives-sealants/3m-marine-adhesive-sealant-fast-cure-5200/
For additional support you could cut the end off one of these and glue it over;
www.theboatwarehouse.com.au/deck-fittings-hardware/gunwale-trim-fittings/plastic-gunwale-end-cap/
Ive tackled this job before on a previous boat, but I replaced the whole lot. The hardest thing for you will be finding a replacement of the same dimensions.
Just by looking at the photo, if it where me, I'd just try and rebel the strip and see if it closed the gap and maybe apply a bit of sealant of some sort. But it does look like a section of your hull to deck joint is also broken.
Awesome - great ideas gentlemen thanks very much!
I'll have a crack with the sealant and have a gunwale end cap on hand if it's needed.
Much appreciated
I would glue the item as R13 has suggested. First thing though is to work out how you are going to clamp the the rubber gunwale back in place till the glue goes off. Might need a heat gun to soften the "rubber" first. I would suggest spending some time practicing how this is going to work. If you were on the slips it would be relatively simple but in a pen or on a mooring there is going to have to be some clever stuff happening!
I found mine where screwed.. You can see on southwest24's photo where screws possibly once were. A heat gun certainly would help, especially on a tight radius. That small section wouldn't require heating.
Unfortunately, if it is the PVC and not rubber type, they only come in 6m lengths. If you are in SW WA as your username suggests, I may have some left over from my job you can have, but it is almost certain it will not be the same profile.
I'll be watching this with interest - I have a similar job to complete on my SS22, but it is a long way down the jobs list. Keep us updated with how you go.
As Toph points out it looks like some of the external flange of the deck/hull joint has been broken. This flange seems to be mostly non-structural as there is a big strip of laminate on the inside that will still be holding the boat together, but you will probably want to clean up the damage and seal up the ends of the break whilst you have the gunwale strip partially removed.
Here's the details of how the deck and hull are joined.
Norton bear tape 50mm wide starts at $2.40 at Bunnings for 4.5m and should be strong enough in shear if you make 6 strips of it and tape from the deck over the gunwale to the topsides? 6 strips evenly spaced along the length. 15m tape is $6 or so. Need to make sure the deck and hull are fully acetone cleaned down. The 5200 is very messy stuff - mask out the gunwale top and bottom of the rubber before you start using the 5200.
These handles with 2 suction caps work well but the cost of the job is increasing with stuff you probably don't need.
www.whitworths.com.au/hol-tite-handle
