Repairing Crack in Hull?

[fortnox]

Running the River, and it finally happened! Hit a log at night I am assuming about 10 mph and it created about a fist size crack underneath driver side v drive compartment.
Does not make sense because I have been in many boats and hit things much harder, so it could have been from different incident???

It does not appear to have penetrated the hull, but I cannot be sure? How thick are the hulls on 2001 Super Air?

How much does this repair generally cost? I see no stress cracks.
What is the difference between fiberglassing from the bottom up vs top down??
Is there a specific advantage to one or the other?

Thank you!

[mdvalant]

Pictures are necessary.

I'm not exactly sure I've ever seen a "fist sized crack" wouldn't that be a crater? More info would be nice!

[fortnox]

LOL...I guess that would help!! It looks just like I hit a log. I would liken it to what an interior door would look like if it was punched. A oval ring where it was pushed-in in the middle. It is certainly not a hole...but maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep.
I will try to get some pics.
I am just more curious to hear what other people have encountered and how much it cost to fix.
Will the hulls integreity be compromised or not as strong AFTER it is repaired?

[swc5150]

A good friend of mine had his boat T-boned by a Bu, putting a 3' gaping hole in the side of his boat. A week at the glass repair shop and you'd never know it happened.

[bchesley]

I had a 2001 ski that hit a concrete guard rail in an ice storm that tore off the rear corner. Three weeks at the glass shop and the boat looked like it was new. Fiberglass is an amazing structure in that it can be rebuilt with ease. No worries about something that small, but it should be fixed.

[fortnox]

thanks guys....I feel a lot better now! I was pretty concerned lol! Hittin' double-ups with a hole in my boat probably not the best idea.
Nice to know it can be good as new....now only if my wallet felt like it didnt have a hole too!
Thank you for the feeback

[81nautique]

..now only if my wallet felt like it didnt have a hole too!
Thank you for the feeback

Insurance??

[fortnox]

Update

So, yes I have insurance with $500 deductable. I located a guy who so far has done an excellent job. I contacted local shop which was highly recommended and they suggested to run it through insurance. They did not give me a quote over the phone, they just said it would be expensive and would have to see it.
I got a quote from local guy, who said he could do the job for $750 which I felt like was a pretty good deal. He also offered to fix all the minor scratches on the boat as well...so I pretty much could not turn that down.

Unfortunately, the crack did make it all the way through the boat and the foam was soaked on the inside!!

He pulled the driver side hardtank out and you can clearly see where the crack has made its way through the hull.

Since he had to pull hard tank and buy the foaming agent, he is charging me 850, which he told me he would do if he had to upfront.

All in all, it seems like a good deal, but still would have been cheaper to go through insurance.

[NautiDave07]

Damage like that is not worth making the claim over. It would have only saved you 350 and you would have likely seen an increase in your insurance premium next year.