She is a nice boat and I think she deserves a loving owner. My boat is 40 years old, but I don't think the
hull is going to wear out before me, unless I hit a reef or rocks, or leave it to rash to death against a concrete or
steel pier...
Things to think about
:
How many fittings need to be removed to do the repair?
Each fitting needs to be bolted through solid glass/epoxy, the core material should be completely sealed with
epoxy, otherwise
water will enter the core through your bolt holes.
Do the fittings have
backing plates?
How many gallons of
epoxy are you going to need to buy?
What will you use as core and how much will you need?
How will you finish it?
Do you have the skills?
Can the work be done in the
water or will she be in the yard?
Can you keep it in your backyard or will it be at the boatyard?
Will you have to step both masts?
Each of these questions will effect the cost.
For instance: my boat has a few small soft spots. They are small enough that I will be able to fix them with the boat in the water. Thankfully they are not near any fittings. I have the woodworking tools and skills. It will not take more than a half gallon of epoxy, some
marine ply, a few stainless screws, and some dynel.
I can probably do my repair for $300 not including my time.
It is really a matter of scale, but the real killers are not the cost of materials, it's the time, and the logistics.
If you have to haul the boat in a yard, unstep the masts, pay someone to do all the work. Then it will be thousands upon thousands.
If you can do it in your slip, without the help of professionals, then it will only be the cost of materials and tools, which entirely depends upon how much of the core is rotten.