Dave,
I had some additional thoughts. It is easy to pull one fastener of a piece of deck hardware and test the core. We peer down the hole with a bright light and use a dental pick to test the core integrity. Good core will look tan in color and be firm. The longer the core has been wet it will darken and soften. I suspect balsa core and polyester resin change chemistry during long term (10+ years) exposure to both fresh (rain water) and salt water. The change seems to be towards acidic. I have observed quick forming corrosion on tools and hole saws used on very wet and especially rotten core. It also smells bad, very bad of old resin and swamp. It will often corrode SS fasteners, sometimes severely. As Dennis or Bob mentioned, a little wet core is not a big deal. Rotten core that has totally failed, especially under/around high load deck hardware needs attention sooner than later. Larger failed areas can allow increased flexibility in the hull and deck structure. I found a large failed area under a white plastic cockpit opening port when I observed some stress cracks after a knockdown. (48 knot gust, boat knocked over far enough to have green water over the cockpit winches.) I expect most boats could use the deck hardware pulled, the deck core inspected and the hardware re-installed with new sealant every 10 years or so. I expect our work on Calypso will allow her to survive another 30 years or longer. Martin Calypso 1971 C&C 43 Seattle ________________________________ From: CnC-List [[email protected]] on behalf of Dave Godwin [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 5:49 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Stus-List Scope of work... Martin, I’m planning on taking on my boat this summer the same job as you have undertaken. This is just a general question but I’m wondering about what I may expect to find when I get started. My question is this: When you pull the deck hardware and find areas that need to fixed that have wet core, is it a matter of “large” areas of wet surrounding the hole or is it generally just confined to local intrusion around the bolt holes? Meaning I guess, are you going in a removing wet core within reach of the original hardware bolt hole or are you cutting up the top layer of deck and going in and replacing the core? And as follow-on, is the balsa rotten or is it “merely” wet”? As I said, I say that because I’m wondering how much of the deck fiberglass I can expect to cut out and replace. I’m prepared for the worst... Your observations would be welcome. Best, Dave Godwin 1982 C&C 37 - Ronin Reedville - Chesapeake Bay Ronin’s Overdue Refit<http://roninrebuild.blogspot.com/> On Apr 21, 2014, at 9:17 PM, Martin DeYoung <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Jimmy, Thanks for the info based on your Bruckmann built Redline. I will discuss the hatch conversion idea with Calypso’s co-owner but I expect we will keep the teak dorade boxes. One of our goals is to keep the boat mostly looking like it was when launched, just a little updated here and there. > have you decided on deck treatment?< I am planning to test Kiwi Grip (light gray) and EZPoxy 2 (color similar to the original off white) on a cockpit hatch. I will be testing for how the paint applies with brush or roll/tip and how the Kiwi Grip looks/feels. If the light grey non-skid area looks out of place we will stick with the existing all off white and use a custom color mix of Kiwi Grip or similar non-skid coating. The original teak foredeck hatch was converted to a A&H 36”x36” back in the early 80’s. The mid and head A&H hatches were original from 1970. All three opening A&H hatches were sent to Hammerhead for refirb. I will report back on how they look when the 90lbs of hatches and packaging arrive back next week. By the time we are finished over 200 holes in the deck will have been drilled out and refilled with epoxy. Some work days we have found more old holes that were painted over than we filled. Must be each past owner moved deck hardware around several times. Most of the old polyester based filler (“bondo”) is failing and allows water to seep by. All deck hardware is being removed to inspect for water intrusion. Most areas checked so far have some amount of wet or damaged core. We are getting faster at repairing and sealing the areas. High load areas will be rebuilt with epoxy and glass so no further water damage will occur. The interior will be sanded or stripped (it is painted Herreshoff style, white with teak trim) then repainted with white Brightside. If time allows we will rebuilt the “stick built” sole supports. After decades of racing and cruising, crew weight upon the floorboards causes enough creaking to be quite annoying when someone does a middle of the night anchor check. Martin Calypso 1971 C&C 43 Seattle <image001.png> From: CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jimmy Kelly Sent: Monday, April 21, 2014 5:47 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Stus-List dorade box fastening have 1968 redline 41 by bruckmann mfg....removed dorades..,back in early 80s....were fastened from below as well as from inside boxes...also glassed....within box....were not designed to be removed......had to have yard ..cut them off...instead of new dorades went with aluminium 14 by 8 inch hatches...alternated which way opened....one of best changes made....especially when in hot climates....30 yrs later..lewmar hatches still in great shape....also less teak to maintain...with way yard installed hatches ... length wise parallel to boat centerline....at least 2 can be open depending on direction of wave spray...have really worked well....also look great...not what had in mind when project started...later replaced teak hatches with lewmar aluminium hatches..no more leaks when teak wood dried out in hot summer sun.....good luck on your project....have you decided on deck treatment? _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com<http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
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