13' Bullet 130 Rebuild & Repower

**TwzteD** · 02-19-2019, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by home made tunnel

What’s the point of the gusset pads if you don’t mind me asking

So the gussets don't "print" on the outside of the hull over time, sometimes you will see a distinct line on the outside of the boat right where the gusset is and the pad spreads the surface area out to prevent that, plus it adds a little bit more strength to spread the load out if it flexes.

**Gorilla0178** · 02-19-2019, 11:06 PM

He pretty much explained it right there. Printing mostly happens when a thin bulkhead is glassed in, and the boat shrinks a little over time. Mostly in New boats. There was a post here with a pic clearly showing this phenomenon . The pads would help in a new boat. I suggested them in this case because the sides are not cored and if he's beating around th the ocean, a hard hit could spider crack around the hard point on the boat. As he said, the pads help give the gusset a bigger foot print.

**home made tunnel** · 02-20-2019, 08:03 PM

Ah - I understand now. Thanks. I've just never seen it in any fiberglass boat builds. Or never payed attention enough?

**Gorilla0178** · 02-20-2019, 08:32 PM

They usually don't. We used to use a 2 inch piece of core cut with angles to 3/4 inch on the top, then put the 3/4 inch bulkhead on that, so the bulkhead had a 2 inch footprint not 3/4. But those were light weight builds. His are overbuilt, as expected.

**TwzteD** · 02-21-2019, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by Gorilla0178

They usually don't. We used to use a 2 inch piece of core cut with angles to 3/4 inch on the top, then put the 3/4 inch bulkhead on that, so the bulkhead had a 2 inch footprint not 3/4. But those were light weight builds. His are overbuilt, as expected.

Overbuilt is the trend on this build

**XstreamVking** · 02-21-2019, 07:43 AM

Spreading the load on the skin is always a good idea. Print-thru is for cosmetic reasons. Tuff lil tank it is!

**Gorilla0178** · 02-21-2019, 10:00 PM

No pics, but the gussets are glassed in. 2 staggered layers of 1208 on each side. Pics tomorrow im sure. Still wet.

**TwzteD** · 02-22-2019, 06:28 AM

Not sure what the deal is with Photobucket but it seems to be down, my app is not working and the website won't load. I'll get some pics up when it decides to work again.

**TwzteD** · 02-22-2019, 07:17 AM

I'll get a better picture of them later

**1954bmw** · 02-22-2019, 07:28 AM

Dayum, Are you going into battle with this thing, are you going to glass to the deck???

**TwzteD** · 02-22-2019, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by 1954bmw

Dayum, Are you going into battle with this thing, are you going to glass to the deck???

Yeah the top cap will be glassed to the bottom hull at the end if that's what you were asking.

**TwzteD** · 02-22-2019, 01:29 PM

**TwzteD** · 02-23-2019, 06:54 AM

I trimmed the extra glass on top of the gussets and then put the cap back on and its solid as a rock, took a little finess getting it back on since the sides don't flex much anymore.

**TwzteD** · 03-08-2019, 12:59 PM

Not much updating going on unfortunately, I sold my house and had to move temporarily to my uncle's Wich is in a HOA until my new house is done being built.

Poor boat outside in the weeds!