Wooden Boat Restoration Repair - WEST SYSTEM Epoxy

Inspecting and Evaluating 12
Begin your inspection as follows:
1. Support the boat in its proper shape. Stem and transom centerlines should be plumb.
The sheers should be level at each station. Brace or shim the hull to prevent any
movement before the repair is complete. The more parts that are bonded with epoxy,
the more rigid the final structure will be. When the repairs are complete, the boat will
retain the shape in which it was supported.
2. Remove equipment, hardware and accessories, canvas covering, trim and fiberglass
cloth if it is loose.
3. Find the sources of leaks and the areas affected by leaks before the boat dries out. Look
for damp areas, peeling paint, soft or discolored wood. Remove the old finish as
necessary to judge the condition of the wood underneath.
4. Inspect each structural member and its fasteners to see if they can still carry their
intended load. Use an ice pick or other sharp tool to probe for areas of dry rot. Look for
rot in areas of poor air circulation, where parts contact each other and around
fasteners. If the damage is from an impact or fatigue, look for cracked frames or loose
fasteners away from the obviously damaged area (Figure 2-4).
5. Remove damaged material and parts that block access to suspected damage. As
necessary, dismantle the skin and underlying structure in reverse order of construction
until all of the damage is removed or accessible. Carefully remove and save salvageable
parts for reassembly. Some parts, although damaged beyond repair, may still serve as
patterns for fashioning a replacement. Removing the damage does not necessarily
mean removing the entire part. Often a part can be repaired in place by scarfing in a
new section or adding reinforcing (see Section 4.3).
6. Dry the boat thoroughly before beginning repairs. Remove all the remaining old finish
and provide plenty of ventilation to speed the drying process. The wood moisture
content should equilibrate at 8%–12%. The structure will then be dimensionally
stable, the epoxy will bond better and the moisture won’t be sealed in. Provide a dry,
sheltered work area for the boat and yourself.
Reassess the project
Once you’ve completed your inspection, you’ll know exactly what condition your boat
is in and will be better able to plan your repair. We urge you to again consider the
questions posed in Section 1:
What results are you looking for? A quick repair, a complete restoration or
something in between?
Are you prepared to commit the time and resources to get the results you’re
looking for?
Is wood/epoxy construction the best solution to your problem?
When you are clear on your answers to these questions, you are ready to proceed on
your repair or restoration and use the following sections of this manual as appropriate.
Section 8 provides fundamental techniques for using WEST SYSTEM epoxy products
successfully in wooden boat repairs. Even if you are familiar with these products, it is
important to make sure you thoroughly understand the basic techniques for surface
preparation, bonding, bonding with fillets, laminating, fairing, and applying woven
cloth and tape which are discussed in Section 8. Sections 3–7 of the manual provide
detailed procedures for particular types of repair and can be used in whatever order
your repair requires.
Wooden Boat Restoration & Repair ©2008 Gougeon Brothers Inc., All rights reserved.
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