Soft Deck, How Bad Is Bad ?

[sunblock]

Wow I like how this thread has evolved.

I would not expect a seller to allow me to drill holes or the like in their deck. But I would hope with a good survey we good bring the cost down some for the needed repairs

[Maren]

Originally Posted by sunblock

Any boat I make an offer on I will get a survey first, I just dont want to waste money on a survey if a problem like that is bigger than I am realizing.

Mmmm, this bad is bad.

[sunblock]

Originally Posted by Maren

Mmmm, this bad is bad.

yeah, thats what I want to avoid wow.

[chebba]

The thing I am curious about before attempting to replace a sizable portion of deck core is (plywood): The deck to hull connection and the otherside connection. It seems this would be very important. I have no good drawings of this for my boat. any ideas?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by chebba

The thing I am curious about before attempting to replace a sizable portion of deck core is (plywood): The deck to hull connection and the otherside connection. It seems this would be very important. I have no good drawings of this for my boat. any ideas?

Maybe start with what boat you have?

If by "the deck to hull connection" you mean the where the hull is joined to the deck then this area does not usually involve any core. There are a number of ways the hull and deck are joined.

Most common, a lip on the deck meets a lip on the hull. These matching lips could turn in or out. Some kind of caulk or adhesive is filled between the two lips and they are joined with screws (not so good) or bolts (better). Some might further have a layer of fiberglass over.

Unless you are cutting open the deck to remove rotten core very close to the hull to deck joint this area will probably not be a concern. BUT, will totally depend on your boat.

Not sure what you mean by "otherside connection". Other side of what? Are you referring to the inner and outer fiberglass skins connecting to a new core?

[chebba]

Sorry for the mal lingo. I meant where the deck joins to the coach top. I guess I want to make sure that This repair has the structural strength the original had. thanks for the answer. My boat has a gunwale of about 6 inches. I have looked at the hull deck connection diagram of a 33 Hans Christian and the Westsail. I do not see anything on the inside of my boat that is holding up the deck.

[who_cares]

I'd be hugely worried about a soft spot near high load areas, like the windlass, and up in the bow near the forestay. there's a bunch of stress up there and you don't want any structural weakness.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by chebba

Sorry for the mal lingo. I meant where the deck joins to the coach top. I guess I want to make sure that This repair has the structural strength the original had. thanks for the answer. My boat has a gunwale of about 6 inches. I have looked at the hull deck connection diagram of a 33 Hans Christian and the Westsail. I do not see anything on the inside of my boat that is holding up the deck.

I'm sorry but I'm very confused. You talk about the gunwales and the hull deck joint which is the outside edge of the boat but also coach top (you mean the raised area in the middle of the deck that is the higher ceiling area inside the cabin?). Which is it that concerns you?

What holds up the deck are two things. The deck is attached to the hull all the way around the boat so that supports it from the side. Then inside the boat there are bulkheads (walls) between the cabins that also support the deck and cabin top. These bulkheads will be fiberglassed to the hull of the boat on the sides and to the deck and cabin top overhead.

[CarlF]

The perfect is the enemy of the good (enough).

I agree that a 3'x3' obviously soft area means "run away". You have to ask why the owner didn't fix it and what else is lurking.

But with less serious deck problems, a boat that can hold together for 40 years can probably hold together for 50 years - especially with a better owner. How "perfect" a deck do you need to be happy?

For smaller areas, I've seen plenty of apparently successful repairs with stuff like this:

Wet Wood Epoxy

Is it better to "do it right" and cut open the deck? - sure. But how much better?