Proud new owner 1979 Viper

[VultureNo2]

Contact Tomas at Express Composites. He or someone else there will take all the mystery out of it. Sorry, I didn't have the number handy. It's not that hard once you get going. Bill

[79ViperInProgress]

Underneath the first layer of fiberglass and all the rotted wood that looks black, is that the bottom of the boat or do i have another layer yet?

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[79ViperInProgress]

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[VultureNo2]

Looks from the picture that black stuff is supposed to be the 1/2 thick balsa core. I believe that under that is the factory mesh and the bottom of the boat. Clean all that out real good and get sanding. You are at the bottom I believe. Sand carefully. Bill

[79ViperInProgress]

So i have to sand all of the factory mesh out? Do i remove the center beam from the boat as well?

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[77viper]

That is the balsa core. You will need to grind the fiberglass under that with a 36 grit "express sells a great disk for that". The grinding will allow a good bond with the new glass.

The stringers have core under them *** well, they were built both with the stringers on top of the core as well as the stringers on the hull with the core i between them.

This might help, my viper with all the core out.


There is also core under the foam filled boxes on the sides.

[79ViperInProgress]

Why does my viper have the solid beam in the center? Is that actually not solid but just looks like it? And how do i remove that?

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[YDOC462]

Mine had that"tunnel" in it.the original stringers were in it. I sliced it down the middle long ways and then ran a saw down the bottom edge. The wood in mine was completely rotten and non existant. There is core under that. It should be a recessed section were the pad is.

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[79ViperInProgress]

Ok sounds good, im taking it a day at a time for now. I dont wanna screw up and punch a hole through my hull or do anything else that will cause me major headaches haha.

Also i noticed a have a small hole on the bottom, almost at the back if the boat hull. Whats the best way to repair this? Its about the size of a pea, maybe smaller even?

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[Hippie459MN]

Go check out my entire rebuild thread. I had a few good holes and one big huge crack in the hull that we repaired. I havent flipped the boat over yet to do the bottom work on it but should be just some minor work to it then body work. Ugh!

You find my topic here - http://www.hydrostreamforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1171

Looking good. At least your bulsa is black mud so it will come out super easy. Someone did a really bad core job on mine using plywood. Let me tell ya, my boat almost ended up in the scrap pile a few times trying to get that crap out. lol