Honest Fiberglass guy?

[mixermarkb]

Hey guys, 

I found a soft spot in the floor of my Champion. I'm hoping for the best, hoping it's just localized and a simple fix, although I know it could likely be really bad, rotten stringers, etc. The boat sat for outside without a cover for a while before I bought it some years ago, so anything is possible. 

I'm looking for an honest, and affordable, glass repair guy, pretty much anywhere between STL, LOZ, and Branson/Bull Shoals, Mt. Home Ark. 

It's a plus if they do carpet and install seats, as that was already on the list for that boat. 

If anyone has anyone they recommend, PM me, or post it here, and if anyone has anyone to stay away from, I'd appreciate a direct message if you choose not to name names in a public forum.

 

thanks! 

[Hunter75]

Championship Marine Repair in Spokane just did our boat and they did a fantastic job. They came highly recommended from several of the guys we fish against in tournaments. I've seen the work they did on some other boats and on ours and it is top notch. Insurance covered our repairs but some of the others I mentioned said they were reasonable.

[176champion]

I have heard that Championship marine does great work also.

[Dutch]

Tom Stadler's shop is IMHO the best around.  I had them work on my previous boat after it was side swiped by a pick up truck.  They did a great job.  I just had them put on a keel protector this week.  You can't beat Championship Marine.

[mixermarkb]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm aware Championship Marine is the top dog as far as glass work goes, and I will give them a call to get a quote. To be honest, if it was a newer boat with an issue that insurance would help with, I wouldn't even give it a second thought, I'd just drop it off at their lot.

However, this boat is a 99, closing in on twenty years old, and no insurance is going to help with a rot/delamination issue on a 1999 bass boat. I'm going to be totally out of pocket on this. Because of the age of the boat, while I want it to look good, I'm really more concerned with it being done safely and saving any bucks I can along the way. 

I know a few of the guys that work or retired from the boat companies in the Mountain Home area do glass work on the side, or have smaller shops. Anyone know any of those type of guys that would at least be honest enough to tell me if I have major issues? 

[fishinwrench]

If you have no other issue besides a soggy spot in the floor I can tell you how to fix that real easily.  Unless your Champ is a 1980 or earlier model then the likelyhood of rotten stringers is very low.

[buckwhisperer]

Like wrench said, floor,stringers aren't that bad. Phoenix Fiberglass is a local guy here in Eureka that does good work and comes off like a cash and handshake sort of place. Good luck with it.

[fishinwrench]

Just make some slits in the carpet with a razor knife, drill a few 3/8" holes through the floor, shoot in a can or two of expanding foam, and set some concrete blocks on the area so it doesn't puff it up too much.   

That will firm up that soft spot real well.

[shrapnel]

10 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Just make some slits in the carpet with a razor knife, drill a few 3/8" holes through the floor, shoot in a can or two of expanding foam, and set some concrete blocks on the area so it doesn't puff it up too much.   

That will firm up that soft spot real well.

Genius!

[mixermarkb]

How would you keep the foam from getting waterlogged?