The rub rail is damaged on the port aft corner, so I decided to replace that part of the stiffener as well as the entire insert.

Damaged rub rail stiffener.


The stiffener and flexible insert are listed on the Taco Web site (https://tacomarine.com/rub-rail-store-vinyl-inserts-v12-0303), but apparently they no longer stock the stiffener. I found three online vendors that have some, but only as a single 20-foot piece, which requires an expensive shipping charge. One of the vendors (Blackburn Marine, https://www.blackburnmarine.com/) agreed to cut up the stiffener into three pieces before shipping it. If you can’t find a piece of stiffener in a salvage yard, I recommend you consider this approach.

M

Closeup of gap I had to fill

https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=796.msg4692#msg4692

This is for an 84 model year (IIRC) but looks similar to my old 86. Should be what you have.

Yes the concrete like stuff is what I meant by pads, I assumed I would just have the new floor sit on those. But you are saying I need to also replace those? I was thinking of just putting a layer of adhesive or 5200 on top and possibly screwing into them before I fiberglass the top of the deck.

Glad to hear the BC will be fine to use

Thank you Rick I appreciate the feedback.
I could agree and argue. Something obviously went wrong. Did I miss one mix? Maybe. Actually I hope so so at least I can have cause! As least there would be a reason.  I have similar soft glass in two different spots on two different days of the evolution which is most confusing because it’s the same issue twice. Glass step one and two. Had I not gone through 25 gals in the last year I would chalk it up to rookie error. 1.5 oz CSM  melts almost instantly in resin so it’s hard to miss and leave it dry when it’s the only layer I was working on. The CSM that is there looks dry but is wet and sticky… just displaced.
I sprayed two layers of gel then rolled another two. The gel is cured and hardened it’s just some spots of glass u see it. Some of these visible gaps may have been pulled when I was taking it out of the mold and everything was shifting.
All good points to consider going forward so I thank you for that. Obviously something went wrong but it would be easier to understand if it was traceable to only one step. That mixer looks cool though I will get one if for not other reason than to add an obvious step to make sure it’s mixed.


Duffy, I added the duratec for its glossy properties  but I’m going to do without it in molds going forward. Not blaming it but it is the only different variable in anything I have done to date. I will spray with it as it makes the gel thinner and spray easier. Yes the failure definitely sucks but the additional two inches in width is going to stop a lifelong voice in my head on repeat saying “I wish I had two more inches in width here”. 

Thank you for your feedback.

Still had some gel coat creep under the parts so that has to be better addressed. Going to try filleting everything with plasticine clay this time. Drywall spackle does work really well for fillets so I may stick with that in places.