Hi Guys,

I hope you don't me mind asking a question about my Cobra ...

I have an old plywood boat and the hulls 'flex' a bit when you push them with your hand. They do this on the inside walls of the hulls, near the centreboard - about where you would stand on them if you were righting the boat after capsising.

I am assuming that they should not flex like this ... any suggestions on how I can fix them?

Thanks

Matthew

dont know much about cobras, but on a mossie we try to right them from the main beam, most timber mossies have a double skin at the main beam or double frames. so dont flex to much.
on my boat i think you would put your foot through the boat if you were to try and right the boat with your feet between the centre board and the deck.

Hi Greymatter

Yes, I right the Cobra from the main beam too. The problem is that it looks like someone may have been putting their weight on the inside wall between the two beams in the past and the hull seems to have a 'weak spot' there.

I have only had the boat for 6 months.

The question is - how do I fix it?

Matthew

Matthew,

As Rob says, right the boat from the main beam which would be in line with your righting rope anyway. There should be a frame at the front of the centreboard case. Does it flex at that frame point too ?

And apart from that try to stand as close to the keel line to get the maximum leverage.

Fixing the flex would involve adding more stiffeners and you really don't want to do that (more weight). Just try standing on points of maximum strength and avoid obvious weak areas.

Regards,

Peter

Matthew.

The best way would be to take the deck off in that area and fix the stringers which may have broken away (assuming that there are strigers). If you use a router set at the deck ply thickness then that would give you easy access to see how big the problem is and get access for the repairs. Are you able to see through from the inspection hatches or feel if there is any damaged stringers ?

If there are no stringers and too much flex then you may have to add some stringers.

Naturally you will need a new section of ply for the deck after the repairs.

Regards,

Peter

Thnaks for the suggestions Peter - I'll see what I can find.

Matthew

Matthew,

There is some information on this forum for deck removal etc. as the link below shows:

Mossie Repair and Deck Replacement

Hope it helps.

Regards,


Peter