19-6 (1972) gas tank bay rot

[uc4me]

So, i recently took my 50gal tank outta my 1972 19-6 to change the hoses and ground the tank (which wasn't) and found several areas of rot at the base of the tank bay.  Bummer.  (btw: I currently use an external 15 gal tank).

I am hoping to apply an interim fix to get me through the summer and then attack next spring.  I really don't want to rip up the floor - it seems there has been little modification done on her since she was born- from what i can tell.  I don't have a ton of experience with glass but I have done it before.

Question: is there a way I can repair the wet areas to hold me over until next spring or should i just do the job the right way- get into it like other rebuild posts show (nice work by the way too, wow!)?  Thanks much for the input.  

[RickK]

She looks good now.     Where is the rot?  On the back of the hatch?

[uc4me]

Thanks Rick, i'll take that as a 'things may not be as bad as thought'?.  Yes, the hatch too is delaminated and soggy but it does seem the bay floor has exposed wood and has soaked up water- as seen in the dark areas along the edge (under that foam type of epoxy that the tank sat upon.  

I should have scrapped more crud off the bottom to show i guess.

[John Jones]

If you are going to do it right in the spring I would not worry about it now.  Go catch some fish ;)

$0.02

[gran398]

I'm with the boys. Go catch some fish. We'll address this, this winter. Run a couple portables in the meantime, or if you want to run the big tank, if she's ok, go ahead....throw a piece of dry 15/32nds ply underneath, chock it down, and run her. No bigee.

Best,

gran

[uc4me]

Great, thanks for putting my mind at ease guys.  Better, when the advice is to go fish...well, how can you argue that?  Man's gotta eat.