Page 3 of 4

Posted: Thu, 09 Jul 2009, 1:52 pm
by bigbird
That makes sense Ian!

The only thing that I am a bit worried about is having to redrill the holes and maybe affect the strength or integrity of the fibreglass...mine creaks a lot as it is.....

Posted: Fri, 10 Jul 2009, 12:07 pm
by Ian
Hi Bigbird,

I wouldn't worry about drilling holes some 1/2mm larger (that's 1/50 of an inch) - the fibreglass is good and thick (about 1/4" from what I could see) and it won't even notice the slightly larger hole (1/2mm will only clear the dust out of the old hole!).

When the Portafolds were produced, fibreglass was still a relatively new technology and moulders still tended to err on the side of caution and make mouldings thicker than they would be today, which is good for us :D

If my one is anything to go by, I would suggest that the creaking may be caused by the old fastenings being a bit loose and the noise is just slight movement between the parts.

Ian (life-long boat-bore)

Posted: Fri, 10 Jul 2009, 1:11 pm
by bigbird
Thanks for that Ian, my hubby would rather replace the hinges I suspect, especially if it's quicker... :lol: As for the fibreglass I'm amazed at the way it has been relatively easy to repair, you're quite right it is rather industrial, to say the least!! :wink:

Posted: Mon, 27 Jul 2009, 3:00 pm
by bigbird
Just got mine as well Phew!!

The local hardware shops etc, would only sell me boxes of 20 on the Island because they didn't want to hold any as stock, so it was special order only. :? yep, they honestly expected me to pay £120 for hinges....

Posted: Tue, 28 Jul 2009, 4:36 pm
by Admin
:D :D :D :D :D

My hinges have been done! :D :D :D

No creaks or groans and no split fibreglass. I'll see how it fairs at Beaulieu this weekend then give it a lick of paint over the repaired patches inside.

Pictures to follow when I've taken some 'after' shots.

Posted: Wed, 29 Jul 2009, 4:12 pm
by Ian
Matthew, how did you get your hinges done so quickly? I've managed one, so far, with the weather we have had :(

Bigbird - I've been musing over which of your fleet gets pressed into towing duty on the Portafold and trailer-tent...... :?

Ian
(North Island)

Posted: Wed, 29 Jul 2009, 4:46 pm
by Admin
I had to cheat, I don't have the technical abilities of you guys so I popped it 5 minutes round the corner to a GRP specialist who's bread and butter work is making parts for Sunseeker luxury cruisers.

I stayed around to assist and to guide him in the 'way of the Portafold' and he changed four of the off-side hinges and two down the near-side. Those were the badly aligned hinges which had been bodged soon after I got it about 7 or 8 years ago. But that involved the digging out and the repairing of the inner skin of my side walls, which had cracked and separated from the rest of the wall.

Next time I go down he'll do the rest if they're needed and any other little repairs and touch-ups. Oh and the lip around the roof which is needing a repair above the door.

Most of the nicks and blemishes on the roof he can't do anything with because the gellcoat is so thin and he said it would probably end up looking worse than it does now.

All ready for work to begin. Notice the yellow gellcoat filled jack-knife repair to the front.
2009-07-28_01.jpg
The repaired patch now sanded back ready for new gellcoat.
2009-07-28_02.jpg
New gellcoat applied and drying off.
2009-07-28_12.jpg
The hole left by removing the hinge and its old glassfibre repair.
2009-07-28_03.jpg
Mock up of how the new hinge will sit.
2009-07-28_04.jpg
The original steel plate and blob of gell behind the old hinge.
2009-07-28_05.jpg
After the area has been ground back ready for new glass.
2009-07-28_06.jpg
Areas masked up and new fibre cut to size
2009-07-28_07.jpg
2009-07-28_08.jpg
Work in progress.
2009-07-28_09.jpg
Work in progress.
2009-07-28_10.jpg
It looks good with its freshly restored back legs. Just don't look at the front ones!
2009-07-28_11.jpg
Plasticine plug stops the door handle hole becoming too small when it's repaired. The screw holes were so worn that my handle kept falling off.
2009-07-28_13.jpg
Inside holes also filled as these four screws have to take the full weight of the end wall when you put it up. I only had two!
2009-07-28_14.jpg

Posted: Thu, 30 Jul 2009, 8:42 am
by bigbird
Crikey Matthew he had his work cut out, I'm dreading removing our hinges now in case the gel coat comes off with them. This guys done a really good job!

Ian, the Portafold get's towed behind the Volvo and maybe if we ever do her up (again) the Spitfire.

Posted: Thu, 30 Jul 2009, 4:22 pm
by Ian
Hmmm, now I see where I went wrong - I thought scratching around outside with a buddy-minded Portafold, in the rain and the wind, was the accepted Portafold initiation right :lol: :lol: :lol:

Jan - I presume that's 'Viktor-the-Volvo' - the trike makes my Rover seem a bit tame :lol:

Ian

Posted: Thu, 30 Jul 2009, 8:31 pm
by bigbird
'Harley the Davidson' will be most upset to be called 'Victor the Volvo'...he he........They are both just as industrial though.....