Engel Akula

[Guest]

Sounds an expensive hole to fill.

Apart from the Lafayette and 212, Engel boats tend to be moulded in polyester based GRP, and that will most likely be chopped strand reinforcement.

A small area like that can be adequately filled using a stiff mix of chopped fibres and some polyester resin, epoxy would also be okay if that's easier for you to obtain.

You mix the fibres in with some catalysed resin until it becomes dough like in consistency. That makes an extremely strong bridging compound.

Key the area well inside the hull, apply some tape or other kind of non stick backing to the outside of the hole then back fill with the resin and glass mix. Once that is cured, peel away the tape, sand the outside and make good with some polyester filler (Bondo, Evercoat etc.)

Gloves are a good idea, respirator unnecessary, just make sure the area is reasonably ventilated, polyester resin stinks more than epoxy.

I see evercoat do a reinforced filler, these look a bit like Isopon P40 (Evercoat not available here in the UK), e.g. polyester resin mixed with fibres. http://www.evercoat.com/reinforced-fillers/us/

[salmon]

I am going to remain with epoxy. A good friend has texted me some recommendations and using the suggestions above, I think I can do this. Thank you all for your help.

[hardrock]

Hi Tom,

The deck is bonded with unobtanium...its not going to come off. The bow plane operating system can be re-waterproffed with some silicon grease applied around the two vertical shafts (remove the collars - apply grease - refit collars). The bow thruster is a different problem. Its either a mal fitted seal or (worse) its that the internal pressure created by the piston tank is overcoming the ability of the seal to retain integrity. Try plugging both ends of the thruster tube from the outside, then get the trim sorted, then decide if you want a bow thruster. If not, fill in the holes = problem solved. If you do want a bow thruster you might have to consider sealing the whole thing internaly so that its not affected by the large pressure changes caused by the piston tank filling and emptying. These are the joys of a dry hull!!!

[salmon]

Scott,
Thank you for the tips. I already made the decision to remove the bow thruster and in fact it is removed. I believe shipping shook loose the seals and joints on the bow thruster. It could have been repaired, but I feared it would have been problematic and continued to haunt me. Good point on greasing the collars, will do on that. I will also put RTV silicon on the screws that hold the bow assembly. Oh this is a joy to play with! I have not ever had a dry hull. One of my desires is to learn about as many as possible systems out there and this sub hits several. The dry hull as you mentioned, but also an Engle piston system. If you add in the other components like their leveler and their hull, this is a joy (even if some frustration is mixed in). Another cool point is seeing the craftsmanship of the assembler, the design of the manufacturer, and top it off the subject matter, Alula. I feel like a kid in a candy store.

[hardrock]

I'm glad that you are enjoying it Mate.