Tower- reinforcement
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Anything Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47053
Printed Date: May-06-2024 at 2:39pm
Topic: Tower- reinforcement
Posted By: ben.b
Subject: Tower- reinforcement
Date Posted: December-11-2018 at 10:59pm
| Have a 94 Ski Nautique with a new dimensions tower. Has some stress cracks around the front tower legs. Going to grind and repair the gel but want to reinforce underneath. I have some 1708 biax leftover from a previous project. Planned to use 3 to 4 layers to add some strength. Thought was to cut in circles and use smaller diameter for each layer. Will that do the job? Any suggestions appreciated. Thank you. |
Replies:
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: December-12-2018 at 12:29am
|
Might not be stress cracks from the tower,might be cracks from improper drilling the holes in the deck. Were the holes drilled thru the deck like this | | or were they counter sunk like this \ / ? Post some pictures. If they were drilled straight and not counter sunk the gel can develop a stress crack ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: Donald80SN
Date Posted: December-12-2018 at 12:47am
|
Are there metal plates on the bottom side of the tower for support? It sandwiches the glass in between the two pieces of metal. ------------- 1980 Ski Nautique SOLD Back to Cypress Gardens 2002 Sport Nautique, GT-40, FCT2, Cover Sports, Tower Bimini, Inc., Wet Sounds Audio System, Star Gazer Wake Edition S. 1968 Ski Nautique, Project. |
Posted By: ben.b
Date Posted: December-12-2018 at 1:09am
|
Not sure how it was drilled. There are small backing plates. Trying to post pic. |
Posted By: ben.b
Date Posted: December-12-2018 at 1:30am
| http |
Posted By: ben.b
Date Posted: December-12-2018 at 11:08pm
| Can’t get a pic posted. |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: December-13-2018 at 10:46am
|
As previously mentioned the tower was intended to be installed with a chamfered edge on the holes on the top side to keep the gelcoat from stress cracking. On the bottom side the original surface would have been quite uneven, some wood reinforcements are in those areas mostly to allow something to drill the wire holders into. Additionally it is unfinished glass and generally no care would be taken to smooth or sand any imperfections. The tower came with long strand fiberglass reinforced polyester body filler commonly referred to as kitty hair, and aluminum backing plates. The intent was to load up a bunch of kitty hair place the backing plate over it and lightly tighten up the tower before it set to provide a flat uniform surface to squeeze between the two plates. If this wasn't done you would likely stress the deck and see cracks. Take a look and see what is going on – if there is already filler oozing out the sides of the backing plates then it won’t be easy to pull off the backing plate or apply a few layers of glass. If there is no kitty hair filler then I would do that. I have a new dimensions tower on an 83 ski nautique that I have been running for 10 years with heavy ass gear and speakers, on what I would consider a rough water lake for a ski boat, I drive it fast and pull plenty of multiples – it was installed according to directions with no additional glassing and there are NO cracks or weakening of the hull. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: December-13-2018 at 11:01am
| *no |
Posted By: ben.b
Date Posted: December-13-2018 at 8:13pm
| Looks like some 4200 under the plate. |
Posted By: ben.b
Date Posted: December-13-2018 at 8:17pm
 
|
Posted By: ben.b
Date Posted: December-13-2018 at 8:18pm
|
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: December-13-2018 at 9:22pm
|
I would just fiberglass over the existing plate. Like you said, several layers gradually bigger. Then another bigger plate over that like 1/8 aluminum or even stainless if you can afford it. ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: December-13-2018 at 11:39pm
|
Listen to Joe- Remove the screws and evaluate the holes. I bet they aren't chamfered. That is very important with all screws in gel. If that isn't done, the movement of the screw creates spider cracks. Once that is done, you can sandwich blocking under the deck if you want to. Fix the gel, the holes, then the backing below. If the holes aren't chamfered, the brittle gel will spider crack again. ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |