Fisherman 249 hull repair

[racerfern]

I just found this forum today and I'm thrilled. There's nothing like more info from real owners. I recently rebuilt all the deck covers including the one under the center console. They're all solid as a rock.

On to the next project. I probably have a problem with a stringer at the bottom of the hull just port side since there's a slight bit of water coming in. I didn't realize this until I pulled it earlier this winter and saw it slowly dripping out while on the trailer.

Has anyone cut out the fish box on a Fisherman 249 or similar boat? That way I can repair from above and below. Anyone have any pictures as to what it might look like under there or can someone point me in the right direction. I would prefer not to remove the entire front section of the deck if I don't have to. All opinions and thoughts are appreciated.

I've enjoyed the boat for almost three years and I want to keep it seaworthy.

 

[seasick]

Where was the water dripping from?

 

[racerfern]

About 8' back and 6 inches up the port side. If I could see down from above it would be where the fish box ends and the foreward fuel tank begins. I was able to put a thin spatula between layers of fiberglass. It's almost as if it's a double hull at the very bottom. IOW, I'm not into wood core or any kind of mush. I had to grind a bit to actually find the crack. Once I located it I was able to open it up to about 12 inches long, then it becomes solid unless I purposely keep breaking away at fiberglass.

 

[seasick]

Sounds serious to me, sorry to say. I don't know what exactly you mean by 6 inches up the port side but I guess that is 6 inches from the keel line which basically puts is in the hull bottom. The side of that hull is laid up fiberglass I believe.. If you were able to get a spatula under the fiberglass, obviously the glass has cracked probably due to flexing since the coring is shot.
Before you start chopping away the outside, you probably should start looking on the inside for a rotten stringer, bulkhead and/or a soft floor or side panel.
Just glassing the crack won't do if there is structural flexing. It was just crack again. Right now the crack is letting water into the coring and that may have been the case for quite some time

 

[racerfern]

Before you start chopping away the outside...

@seasick We're on the same page. My OP asks about cutting out the fish box from above or if anyone has a picture of the stringer layout so I can have a better idea how to proceed.

 

[seasick]

Sorry, I don't have that info but hopefully someone on the forum does.

 

[racerfern]

As a follow up, I decided to glass repair the outside by sanding down the general area, mixing strands of fiberglass with Mas Epoxy for a few layers back to original shape. A full season of boating, including some nasty seas in open water and no issues at all. No water seeping, no cracks. It's an older boat so I'll just maintain it. I did install Bennett 9x12 electric trim tabs that work great. This is the first time I haven't HAD to do anything to it. Yeah!

 

[seasick]

That's good news.

 

[Fishtales]

Dodged a bullet... Nice to see.