soft deck

[blunas2188]

I have had a soft spot on my deck since I bought my 23 CC last year. It is right next to the front left corner of the console. We know that it was wet because when we were drilling holes for the forward legs of the t-top water came out. This is the only spot that is soft on the deck, so replacing the whole deck seems unnecessary. I was wondering if/how I would go about repairing this soft spot before it gets worse. The boat is being stored inside all winter so I was thinking maybe to cut a patch where the soft spot is and letting it dry out. Then when spring comes, I would patch it back up and reenforce it. I'm not sure if this would even work, but even so it would not look very good. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments? Thanks guys!

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Hi blunas;

Well if water came out my bet is there is more water in their then you might think.

If I were going to do just a patch job I would cut the top lamination (skin off the deck). Not knowing your boat, for me, I would cut at least twice the size you think you have a problem out. So if you have a 1’ square soft spot cut 2 square foot out of that top lamination. Then use a chisel and remove the balsa wood or ply wood you have in there until you have no soft water spot. Then get some ½” marine grade plywood and coat both sides with epoxy or you can get some composite material for decks. Then with thickened epoxy put it in the hole and then thickened epoxy to put the old deck skin in place.

Go here
http://www.westsystem.com/ss/use-guides/

and read this
002-550 Fiberglass Boat Repair & Maintenance


FellowShip

Just for the Grins

[blunas2188]

Well we know there was a bunch of water there because when we cut an access hole inside of the compartment (infront of the console) on the port side wall water poured out and the foam inside was soaked. Also, when we drilled the holes to secure the forward leg of the t-top, the two holes on the outside (towards the port rail) were wet, but the two on the inside (closer to the console) were dry. Could this be a bigger problem then I think and should I be worried about the damaging the stringers when cutting into the deck?

Also, does anyone know where I could find a blueprint of the stringer system and how everything is laid out underneath the deck? Thanks

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Sounds like you got a lot of deck damage. The deck lamination is made of balsa and some plywood when water gets in there it eventually turns to wood pulp which is what you have. The question is how bad, or how far did the water travel. Everywhere it got to on a 1975 boat by now is bad and needs to be cut out. Again you cut out the TOP layer of glass which is 1/4'” thick remove it and then remove the balsa lamination. Which is ½” thick then re fill the cavity with plywood and then replace the glass skin. I am NOT telling you to cut deeper than the first layer of glass. The stringers are further down.

Now I will tell you the best way and why.

Remove the T-top
Remove the center consol.
Remove all the top layer of glass (skin)
Remove all the balsa and plywood
Replace all with plywood
Replace old skin with new glass.
Fair it out and then paint.

Why – your CC and T-top are screwed into Wet Wood Pulp. It’s just a matter of time when you will hit a good wave and pull up the CC screws and t-top screws from that wood pulp. While you are at it, my bet, if the transom hasn’t been done it is in the same shape as the deck.

As for pictures go to the main screen of Classicseacraft.com then go to SeaCraft Galleries go the 23’ click on Fellowship and look at approx 70 pictures of my boat from beginning to end.
Again you might want to down load that West marine file and read a bunch of it that really helped me when I got started.

A 1975 Potter 23’CC SeaCraft is a true Classic. The fiberglass is ageless but the balsa and plywood is not. If you do it the Best Way it will serve you another 30+ years.

Best of luck and sorry to be the barer of a major project new, but sounds like the band aid approach isn’t going to really cut it for you.
Maybe you need to get some one with a lot of knowledge to check out the deck for you maybe it is still in that one side or ¼ or ½ of that side. My concern is all those screws that hold down the CC and the T-top are they screwed into good dry wood or wet wood pulp.



FellowShip

Just for the Grins

[blunas2188]

I knew that this was probably the case and I would love to create a major project and do a total re-haul, but the funds are not quit there yet. I think the t-top should be fine considering three out of the four legs are screwed into solid deck (as well as 2 out of the 4 screws on the fourth leg) but I am just worried that someone will jump from the rail to the deck and make a nice new hole or do some other damage. The bottom line is that I would love to make this a project boat, but the timing is not great considering my bank account.

But would this patch-work be sufficient/worth it for the time being? Or should I not even be worried about it if a total re-haul is somewhere in the semi-near future (2-3 years)? Also, I think the transom is alright, we have an SF inboard so there is not much strain or pressure being put on the transom anyways. (however, this will definitely be part of the re-haul when it does actually occur).

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Go here
http://www.westsystem.com/ss/use-guides/

and read this
002-550 Fiberglass Boat Repair & Maintenance

Read section #5 it will tell you what to do. That should keep you on the water for a few years.


FellowShip

Just for the Grins

[fdheld34]

Wow..... Wish I would have known about the free download before I purchased Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance.