After repairing hundreds of holes in Calypso’s balsa cored deck, including 2 or 3 long gone versions of companionway hoods and dodgers I strongly second the motion to drill/fill with epoxy, re-drill then seal under the screw.
Anything less runs the risk of water eventually seeping into the balsa. Small amounts of water degrading the balsa around a few screws will not compromise the deck strength but once enough water starts to flow “downhill” and work its way to a low spot the potential repair area expands significantly. If time does not allow the full meal deal, using a low viscosity epoxy, paint, or other coating will help. I have not used any of the “creeping crack repair/sealer” type products but have heard from people walking the dock past Calypso as we work on the deck of it being used to seal balsa. Martin Calypso 1971 C&C 43 Seattle [Description: cid:D1BF9853-22F7-47FB-86F2-4115CE0BAF2F] From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Robert Boyer via CnC-List Sent: Monday, September 08, 2014 10:23 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Stus-List Companionway hood I am planning to remove my companionway hood and check for leaks later this Fall. Leaks into the hood are not an issue but I think the screws that fasten the hood simply screw into the outer layer of fiberglass and penetrate into the balsa core (like many other original fastenings). I will most likely remove a little core in the area of the screws and check it for water. I will probably drill out the holes to a bigger size (like 3/4-inch) and then fill them with thickened epoxy. After the epoxy hardens, I will use a suitably sized pilot hole so the screws have something to bite into. Even if it's not leaking into the core now, if you've gone to all the trouble of removing the hood, why not fix it so it will never leak? In this case, there wouldn't be much of a need for any sealant. In driving rains, I am getting a leak that exits near the companionway steps--I think the companionway hood is the likely entrance for the water (unless it is simply coming in at the companionway door). If this is the case (which I don't know for sure yet) my balsa core is probably wet in the area. We'll see... Bob Bob Boyer S/V Rainy Days / Annapolis MD 1983 C&C Landfall 38 - Hull #230 email: dainyr...@icloud.com<mailto:dainyr...@icloud.com> blog: dainyrays.blogspot.com<http://dainyrays.blogspot.com> "There is nothing--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." --Kenneth Grahame
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