Cheetah Repair

I messed up with binding my radio and or the receiver got wet after the first two heats during one of them I submerged it for a few seconds.

In the third heat at the Michigan Cup I milled the start, and was on my first lap on the back straight and it just kept going straight full tilt towards a shoreline and impaled itself on a pine tree branch.

So, I'm back and after a week of thinking about it I decide to try and fix it and boy is it a bear reaching inside there with carbon kevlar cloth and epoxy.

I'm posting some pics to show the extent of damage and the progress of the repair. The only other thing that needs repair or actually I'm replacing the strut. I actually bent a stainless steel Octura large gas strut!

Anyway here wee go!

Taped up the outside, used 2 layers of cf/ kevlar cloth folded into the nose first, then a second piece to fix the lower portion. Tomorrow, I will patch the top from the inside. I have the missing piece that will fill the hole on the top. That hole made it a bit easier to get the second piece in.

Last pics for now. I had to make an odd shaped piece to fix the lower inside.

Can you see the bend in the strut? Cool huh? :cool2:

Good work Ray, life's little challenges eh? Are you going to be able to straighten the strut? I have had success with a sturdy vice and a healthy set of crescent wrench.

I just bought a new one.

First time I've seen a cat use a toothpick that big Ray.

Man that must have been a savage hit.
Well done on the repairs.

Still working on them, thanks! I'll post more when done or almost. If it gets too heavy I'm going to try a Sprint Cat 36 chopped down a bit for P class.

Im now finished the repairs except for final sanding and paint.

I used tape on top once I pieced it together as best as possible so that the glue would not run all over.

I was not able to get a piece of CF/Kevlar up to the top crack up front so I asked my GF to help after I bought her some cheap elbow length rubber gloves from the dollar store.

Finally she got the last piece in up there.

In one pic you can see my finger pointing to a piece of the tree I failed to remove so I left it in for good luck, lol...

Most pics of the bottom show the FG exterior of the hull kind of hanging there. I did finally remove it all and replaced it with epoxy and chopped glass.

On the top I was not able to get the surfaces level so, once cured and backed by the CF/Kev. I could add epoxy mixed with chopped glass to get it close to original shape.

Once close to original shape and solid, I used Micro balloons and epoxy to level things out since micro balloons have little structural support and can break easy if under stress more than chopped glass.

Here comes a bunch of pics hopefully in some order...

More pics...

Mixture I tried but will not do again: epoxy, chopped glass and micro balloons. The micro balloons made it too dry and difficult to apply.

For structure, epoxy and chopped fiber or glass cloth, CF/Kevlar etc.. For leveling out I use epoxy and micro balloons BUT, when you sand it, wear a mask and use a vacuum or compressed air, it's nasty stuff!!!

After the inside was solid, I sanded, ground out some of the old glass and gel coat so I could get a better bond.

More pics...

The finger pointing to the orange/brown spot is the small piece of tree.

Almost there in these pics...

This is where I am at now. I have a layer of epoxy and micro balloons higher than the deck and same on bottom. I will sand very briefly with 60-80 grit to take it down close then 100, 120, 150 to get the profile correct. Lots of work but, it's more solid now than before.
Need to get some primer and paint soon, maybe a wrap?? we'll see. Might paint the whole top in GEICO colors, i dunno?

Hi,

Nice repair so far Ray, impressive!

Keep up the good work.

Mathieu

I think a wrap would look really cool!!

Its been slow and a learning experience. I tried to use Spot putty to level out the seam since I'm painting it anyway. it sands faster than the hull so I am trying a bondo type product that uses a hardener and it seems to work much nicer.

The repaired work is done so its just a bit more sanding, primer, base and clear. I hope to have it done for the Wellesley Apple Butter on the 26th.

I also did a layer of CF inside the tubs where batts go because there was some slight stress cracks from the crash. It's solid now.

Base color is VW 049 orange.

Last two then bed...

I like how the filler sets in 5 minutes and sands in 20.

Looking good, Ray!

Impressive repair!

Ray...fyi, there are lots of trees surrounding the Wellsley pond!!!!

Noooooooo!!!!!! Lol...

Ray

Did you check or do the sponson's while you were at it??

Looks like new - or better then new.

Larry

Could you share with us the specific bondo filler that you found works best? I have been on the hunt for something to prep a hull for paint as well!

I have not touched the sponsons Larry. I plan on wet sanding, priming and painting the whole boat.

The filler I used is made by Evercoat. It says lite weight and non-clog lightweight filler. Says vacuum processed, no shrinkage, no pinholes, sands fast without clogging sandpaper. I almost bought bondo brand at Canadian tire but, when I was at a local industrial supply store they showed me this. It uses the standard hardener it comes with. One quart will last me a few lifetimes.

Back from paint but, too late to rig up for the Applebutter festival, darn!!

I've got a windshield decal to put on too...

Attachment 137383

That orange looks awesome

Awesome repair.