Mandomaniac wrote:
What I was wondering is if you could successfully reinforce the columns prior to any cracking with an approach using fiberglass and epoxy resin. Plan would be to wrap strips of resin/mat by feel around the columns and bases. Once set up, wouldn't this provide some additional strength in the area?
I tried to use fiberglass with the 3M product. Working wet with one hand and a mirror, I could only get it to stick to my wet (gloved) hand and abandoned the idea. You may be more successful with it though -- you never know until you try!
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It seems that if Hobie used fiberglass in its retro kit, it must adhere reasonably well.
The fiberglass in this kit was a pre-molded, fitted piece. I think it included a small packet of standard epoxy and recommended roughing up the surface with sand paper. It seemed to hold fine for the task it performed. The stresses there are a little different than those of the cam columns though (compressive rather than lateral).
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Would be a cheaper fix than the 3M 8010....considering I have two Revos to deal with. The 3M is upwards of $35 a tube and two or three per yak....OUCH. Admittedly, if I had cracks to deal with, I would go with the 3M.....high cost or not.
I see it on ebay for $25 shipped. You should be able to get by with one tube per boat (1/2 tube per application/side). Pre-fitted PVC halves should minimize waste and provide additional structural strength. Keep in mind that the bottom half of the columns (from the end of the cam bolts down) is the critical area. My fear with the resin is the low adhesion could allow the columns to crack unnoticed inside the reinforcement column.
You can always give it a try and see what happens -- it won't hurt anything. I tried a couple of things on scrap PE before figuring out what worked and what didn't. If you do it, let us know how it turns out!