Rat chewed boat, repairable?

Mullet · 20 June 2022, 02:18

My Saturn FB300 was being stored in a shed with other equipment. Mice or rats never went in there before but I just took the boat out and there are multiple large chew holes. Only thing they chewed in the entire building. There are holes in the floor as well as the tubes. The smallest holes are a few inches in diameter and there is a big hole that is about 3 inches wide and 9’inches long.

Is there a limit on size of holes that can be safely repaired? Is my boat repairable or should I start looking for a new one?

Also any advice on how to compress photo so it’s small enough to meet the size limit here would be helpful

Steve509926 · 20 June 2022, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mullet

My Saturn FB300 was being stored in a shed with other equipment. Mice or rats never went in there before but I just took the boat out and there are multiple large chew holes. Only thing they chewed in the entire building. There are holes in the floor as well as the tubes. The smallest holes are a few inches in diameter and there is a big hole that is about 3 inches wide and 9’inches long.

Is there a limit on size of holes that can be safely repaired? Is my boat repairable or should I start looking for a new one?

Also any advice on how to compress photo so it’s small enough to meet the size limit here would be helpful

It would be easier to retake the photos on your phone with a smaller resolution.

3" diameter holes and 9 " x 3" holes are very big. I'm not saying you wouldn't be able to repair them, but at that size I think you would need to patch them on the inside as well as the outside.

How many holes are there in total? Are the holes near seams, joins etc?

Orwell boy · 20 June 2022, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mullet

My Saturn FB300 was being stored in a shed with other equipment. Mice or rats never went in there before but I just took the boat out and there are multiple large chew holes. Only thing they chewed in the entire building. There are holes in the floor as well as the tubes. The smallest holes are a few inches in diameter and there is a big hole that is about 3 inches wide and 9’inches long.

Is there a limit on size of holes that can be safely repaired? Is my boat repairable or should I start looking for a new one?

Also any advice on how to compress photo so it’s small enough to meet the size limit here would be helpful

Sounds like a good reason to treat yourself !!
maybe an insurance claim

Mullet · 20 June 2022, 23:56

There are at least 7 holes. Two in the floor and five in the tubes on both sides.

Mullet · 21 June 2022, 00:23

I can't figure out the attachments. I uploaded two photos but it won't let me choose to post them just keeps opening the pop up window to upload more photos. It's showing my two photos are under the limit.

I made my profile photo one of the photos....

Also made this album https://www.rib.net/forum/members/28845-albums1190.html https://www.rib.net/forum/members/28845-albums1190.html

Highland Haggis · 21 June 2022, 06:47

Hi mullet I would just clam insurance or replace with a new one they are not to badly priced for the size and set traps for next year

Mullet · 21 June 2022, 06:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highland Haggis

Hi mullet I would just clam insurance or replace with a new one they are not to badly priced for the size and set traps for next year

Thanks! I appreciate the response

Mullet · 21 June 2022, 06:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

It would be easier to retake the photos on your phone with a smaller resolution.

3" diameter holes and 9 " x 3" holes are very big. I'm not saying you wouldn't be able to repair them, but at that size I think you would need to patch them on the inside as well as the outside.

How many holes are there in total? Are the holes near seams, joins etc?

Thanks Steve, I added some photos. Some holes close to the seams

Steve509926 · 21 June 2022, 08:50

Just took a look at your photos! Big mice where you live!

Without doubt it's a new SIB !

Fenlander · 21 June 2022, 10:28

That is more than patching, more like the work of partial new tube sections. Yes of course it can be done because many SIBs are made of sheets of material glued together so looked at that way what's the difference. But I'd not want to be going to sea in a SIB repaired to such an extent.

Mullet · 21 June 2022, 10:48

Thanks this is what I’ve been wondering. It seems repairs could be made but not sure how confident I would feel knowing there are so many large patches on the boat. Feels like a waste of lots of good material. Probably safest to just get a new one.

Mullet · 21 June 2022, 10:49

Thanks this is what I’ve been wondering. It seems repairs could be made but not sure how confident I would feel knowing there are so many large patches on the boat. Feels like a waste of lots of good material. Probably safest to just get a new one.

909 · 21 June 2022, 12:38

My condolences boyo.

Shows what a few dollars in rat poison can help prevent.

Thanks for the reminder.

Mullet · 21 June 2022, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by 909

My condolences boyo.

Shows what a few dollars in rat poison can help prevent.

Thanks for the reminder.

Yep hard lesson but won’t happen again

jwalker · 21 June 2022, 13:22

You can repair it, many sibs are glued together at manufacture so a good repair will be fine. However, it depends on your skill and finances. If it's insured, and your house insurance may cover it if you've no boat specific insurance, then that would seem an obvious solution. Perhaps, you'd like the challenge of repairing it and it would be a good story every time you were asked about it! It's down to your personal situation but, yes it's perfectly possible to repair it.

That's big mouse damage! Best not meet one of them in the dark....

Mullet · 22 June 2022, 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

You can repair it, many sibs are glued together at manufacture so a good repair will be fine. However, it depends on your skill and finances. If it's insured, and your house insurance may cover it if you've no boat specific insurance, then that would seem an obvious solution. Perhaps, you'd like the challenge of repairing it and it would be a good story every time you were asked about it! It's down to your personal situation but, yes it's perfectly possible to repair it.

That's big mouse damage! Best not meet one of them in the dark....

I’ve been thinking about this also. Essentially the entire boat is glued together in the same way a boat is repaired. I might get a new boat and work on repairing the chewed one in the future.

Do you have any suggestions where to source the materials needed for repairs?

jwalker · 22 June 2022, 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mullet

Do you have any suggestions where to source the materials needed for repairs?

There's a number of them but Polymarine is well sorted for general sales. They have a website. You'll need to know the boat's construction material, likely PVC or hypalon. There's different materials and different glueing proceedures for each of them.

Mullet · 22 June 2022, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

There's a number of them but Polymarine is well sorted for general sales. They have a website. You'll need to know the boat's construction material, likely PVC or hypalon. There's different materials and different glueing proceedures for each of them.

Awesome I’ll check that out, thank you!

909 · 22 June 2022, 12:01

Go to your local dealer if you have one. They'll sell you glue, and material by the square inch. Ask for a discount because you'll be spending more than the average customer.

Mullet · 22 June 2022, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by 909

Go to your local dealer if you have one. They'll sell you glue, and material by the square inch. Ask for a discount because you'll be spending more than the average customer.

Unfortunately no local dealer here in Guam. Had to order from mainland US so replacement and any repair materials hard to find locally.

Good idea about the discount though, I’ll try that.