1. Use the full 4 digit year for everything you are asking your question about. Example: 1962, 1988, 2000, 2011
2. Include the correct name of your Whaler model. Example: Montauk 17, Montauk 170, Outrage 26, Outrage 260
3. Include the length when necessary. Example: 16, 17, 18, 20, 22
4. Do not post your email address anywhere on this site as it is already in your user profile.

small screw holes
Bruce Clarke	#1  Posted on 05/08/09 - 6:11 AM
Member Posts: 20 Comments: 1 Joined: 04/20/09	I have some holes in my floor (previous owner) that were for a post to a seat, now removed. They were filled with silicone but remain flush to the floor. I wanted to drill out the hole to clean it up and pour in some west system epoxy. Any tricks on tinting that material to be the same color as floor. There are also some small screw holes from a fish finder on transom (now removed) that I wanted to fill too. I thought about using some micro-fibers with this to thicken it up as it is in the vertical position. How does one mimic the texture in the floor when re-doing a boat? I love the pictures of a boat that's been in someone's backyard uncovered for 15 years. You then see personal project pictures of restoration and then the hull/boat looks brand new again. I just got my first boat 1977 15 sport and would love to restore it, but don't know if it is worth it on this one or I should just enjoy it for a couple years and then get one that is really mint. I have some waves down the side of my hull that are pretty extreme. I'm really anal so this kind of bothers me. It was a gift from my wife so this is something I will not talk about. ( if I know what's good for me) LOL. It looks to be original as the boat is really clean. When I put a straight edge up to the side the waves could be anywhere from 1/4 to almost a heavy 3/8. If you hit the sides it is as hard as a rock. Doesn't seem to have de-laminated from the gel-coat as I have been reading about. If you were to re-do a hull like this could you fill that void in so the sides looked true? Sorry for the lots of questions but I'm really excited. Thanks, Bruce
kamie	#2  Posted on 05/08/09 - 6:48 AM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	Bruce, create a personal page so we can see what your looking at. Waves down the side of a hull, don't bother me, assuming the foam and the fiberglass are still bonded together. It is a cosmetic issue. It has been that way since it left whaler's factory and it passed quality control. Screw holes, my preferred way to fill them is with marine-tex and a flat head screw. It really does blend into the floor. If you want to recreate the non-skid, you will need to make a mold. There are discussions on WC or CW about the process, if you want to go that route. Personally, I would do the marine-tex and the screw for the short term. If I was faced with your boat, here is what I would do. (assuming the boat is still gelcoat and not painted) 1. pull interior out of the hull and set it aside. 2. wash the boat, a couple times to remove all the dirt and grim. Use simple green or a good strong cleaner but stay away from harsh bleach. 3. get a good buffer and a can of buff magic and some good buffing pads. 4. buff, maybe a couple times, if the gelcoat shines, then buff the entire boat. (make sure you buff completely thru the product) If the gelcoat doesn't shine, you might have to wet sand. 5. assuming the buff magic works, follow that with a good paste wax 6. if the interior is in good enough shape, put it back in, or repair/replace the interior 7. take your wife for a long cruse in the boat and thank her over and over for getting it for you. You can actually use buff magic or rubbing compound on the non-skid, get an upholstery brush used by car detailers. You chuck it onto a drill.
Bruce Clarke	#3  Posted on 05/08/09 - 7:45 AM
Member Posts: 20 Comments: 1 Joined: 04/20/09	Thanks, I will take some pictures of it this weekend and create a personal page. I'm a highly skilled cabinet maker and have access to a ton of mahogany so .... I'll be doing some type of custom interior as I love the look of finished mahogany wood. This will be a winter project. Boat is really clean and solid as a rock. Never bottom painted and been a fresh water boat it's whole life. Can't tell you honestly if it has been painted. I've looked for overspray everywhere and can't find a bit so..... I will look into the material you suggested. I don't need to put screws back in. I just want to clean it up so it looks nice again. Why do hacks always mess up a good thing drilling holes in a whaler. Should be a law against it. LOL. New steering cable going in this weekend and hopefully I'll be out on the water mid-week. Have a great weekend.