NEWS
Miri, Sarawak
Deck and hull repair services fall under marine engineering. Here at TKR Engineering, we provide deck and hull repair services.
It’s not every day that you wake up and buy a boat. Once you do, it’s important that you take great care of it in its original ship shape. It’s just as important to keep it running efficiently. A lot of companies or people who own boats know that they have to take care of their boats. But how exactly is the main question here?
This is why we are here to talk about our boat maintenance and repairs. We are here to provide you with some interesting insights on how. Take excellent care of your most prized possessions and keep it functioning at top efficiency.
We will cover all that we know about boat repairs in this article. From common boat problems and repair to the materials used on repairing.
Read on to find out more about boat repairs.
How to Know If Your Boat is a Lemon?
A broken boat or a boat in need of repairs is called a lemon. There are ways to find out if your boat is a lemon. All you need to do is to look out for signs. Here are a few signs of a lemon boat.
1. Gel Coat Discrepancies
Have a look at the boat’s gel coat it works as its history book. Look out for any cuts in the fibreglass that goes beyond a few inches deep. It can reflect any structural damage below its surface.
Inspect the keel for any signs of beaching too. Anchoring off the beach can be seen as extra work. Some boatmen decide to beach their boats out of convenience. That can easily cause premature wear.
2. Funny Engine Hours
If the low price and engine hours entice you, make sure the seller isn’t joking with you. Don’t pull your leg over a tampered or broken engine hour meter. Write down or take a picture of the number on the meter hours before you set off. Then compare it after the water test. If the meter didn’t move after some time on the water, pass on the purchase. It’ll save you the disappointment of being double-crossed.
3. Bloated Flooring
One way to tell a lemon boat apart from a healthy boat is its flooring. A lemon boat usually has signs of rot and mould. The floorboards may sink and show costly problems head. It can possibly threaten the integrity of the hull.
This problem is especially problematic when the rot spreads to the stringers or structural beams. Repairs can involve a lot of labour and money.
4. Bad Wiring
Haphazard wiring is more than a setback. With vital functions like the blower and bilge pump dependent on good connections, unstable wiring can be a hazardous problem.
First and foremost, check under the dash for any loose wiring and put-together ends with electrical tape. There should be none if everything is linked correctly. Then proceed to push all the buttons and make sure they re-join. This is imperative because installing a new wiring harness can spell several thousand dollars.
Keep an eye on the gauges and ensure that they are reading properly too. Does the alternator gauge show that the gauge is charging? The last thing you want to do after the big purchase is tracking down and replacing shorts in the system.
Having said all of that, it’s always good to keep your boat clean. Maintain proper upkeep within your boat to avoid long-term damage.
Checklist for Boat Repairs
Before and after the boat repair, here are a few things to take note of. As soon as all boat repairs are done, you should make sure they are all really done. Here are a few things to ensure the completion of your boat’s repairs. They include:
- Boat test reports (pre-repair and post-repair)
- Equipment trial reports (pre-repair and post-repair)
- Compare actual boat performance to expected performance under OEM manuals
- Final checking to make sure the boat is sea-worthy
Common Types of Boat Repairs
Here are some common types of boat repairs.
a. Hull Repairs
Hull repairs are one of the most common boat repairs. There are 2 situations where a boat’s hull gets hurt:
- When the boat is damaged above the waterline
- When the boat is damaged below the waterline
In the 1st scenario, you can repair the boat while in the water. If it is damaged below the waterline, there’s a good possibility there was continuous ingression of water. Take it to dry land immediately. Then inspect it thoroughly.
A basic hull repair kit is sufficient in repairing the hull. The damage section will be removed in a circular cut. People will then fix the cut-out section using either fibreglass, proper adhesives, or available putties.
b. Core Repairs
Damaged cores are one of the worst things that can happen to a boat. Repairing it can be long, tedious, and an expensive task.
Core damage happens when Core damage occurs due to water intrusion via hull- or deck-fittings. People often use lightweight woods (balsa or plywood) to make cores. Exposure to water can easily eat away and the core starts rotting.
Repairing the core damage involves removing the fibreglass skin to expose the core. This is equivalent to making it new. The basic and fastest solution to repairing the core is to open the area of affection. Remove any water and delaminated core. Then insert a replacement core that re-establishes the structural integrity of the boat.
Conclusion
Now that you have made it this far of this article, you now know that it is important to repair your lemon boat. Do not let your boat rot away as it is such a waste of material and money.
Come to us for your deck and hull repair needs. We are able to reach a deal with you once we have a look over your boat.
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