muffman

When building a new boat how do manufacturers glass the deck to the hull from the engine compartment up to the front of the cockpit ? It seems like once the two halves are mated there is no room to get that section. Do they just use screws or is it posible to adhere it from the outside?

DayTripper

My Baja is bonded with sealant, rivets and screws. The screws that attach the rub rail also go thru the same section.

I also have sections that are nearly impossible to reach trying to get to bolts for cleats, fuel fill etc.... I found some of this out while repainting the boat which we are doing right now.

birdog

Some are glued & screwed..Some are glassed from the inside. I imagine
thats the worst job at Cigarette !

bobbarker

On older boats like my 357 in time you will get a lot of front deck flexing at high speeds. I needed a new rub rail, so I went to my fiberglass man . He removed the old rub rail filled the old holes with epoxy, tighten all the screws that hold the deck to the hull, drilled all new holes for the new rub rail an installed new rail, what a difference,no more flexing or shaking at high speeds , boat feels a lot more solid well thats my 2 cents worth .

US1 Fountain

iTrader: (1)

Fountains have a layer of FG over the joint on the inside the full lenght, except the area at the swim platform. That's filled with a sealant/adhesive from the outside. Rock solid

Roger 1

My 93 Top Gun is glassed from the inside the whole length of the boat. They even did a nice job in the areas that were almost impossible to access.

Roger

BGIII

iTrader: (3)

Mine is glued when the two halves are put together, glassed the full perimeter around the inside and the rubrail is through bolted with stainless screws and nylock nuts. I sure hope my rubrail never needs replacing!

muffman

I noticed mine when replacing the rub rail all but about 4 feet on either side was glassed together. I took some SS screws and counter sunk the heads so they wouldn't interfere with the rubrail over them. One every three inches. Should I use some type of epoxy in addition to the screws in this area or just finish up and seal with 5200?

birdog

Dont use 5200 on the rubrail..It will never come off !...Try 4200

muffman

I meant 5200 to seal deck to hull joint where i used the screws then install rub rail.