Bilge / keel delamination

[leveche420]

Hi!

I found that the wood post that supports the mast from deck to bilge/keel was rotten. This mast support post rests on the bilge/keep and there must have been water sitting in there that not only rot the wood but also delaminated the area. I cut the rotten part and I will install a metal piece where the mast support post will rest. The area where this metal support will rest is currently delaminated. It seem to be a layer of resin and under it I found a weird material they use to fill up the keel. It seems to be like a mixture of resin and sand. When l removed the first layer of resin I found that the sand/resin material was cracked. I removed all loose pieces. I felt humidity. I am currently drying it out and thinking how to refill the gap that I left which is roughly a cubic feet. Any suggestions? I was thinking about first pouring liquid epoxy or other resin so it penetrates and fill any potential gap down there and then fill the gap with a mix of small rocks and epoxy/resin. I may finish with few layers of fiber glass and maybe fairing at the end.

I have no idea if this is the right way to fix the issue so any suggestion or feedback will be greatly appreciated.

I will post pictures soon

[BlueChicago]

I would visit the Catalina 34 owners forum, as this was a known issue for those boats, and there is a fair amount of discussion on how to address it. Perhaps it will give some clues on how you might tackle the issue on your boat.

[leveche420]

Originally Posted by BlueChicago

I would visit the Catalina 34 owners forum, as this was a known issue for those boats, and there is a fair amount of discussion on how to address it. Perhaps it will give some clues on how you might tackle the issue on your boat.

Can you please send me a link? I dont seem to find where discuss about this topic

Thanks!!!

[leveche420]

Here are some pictures!

[Cat36Mahalo]

C34.org. Stu Jackson May be of help. That doesn’t look factory. The put a stack of wood in there (at least on the 36’s that then rots out.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Cat36Mahalo

C34.org. Stu Jackson May be of help. That doesn’t look factory. The put a stack of wood in there (at least on the 36’s that then rots out.

The OP's boat is not a Catalina. Who knows what his boats builder diid...

Jim

[leveche420]

My boat is a southern Cross 31.

What if I put a little bit of concrete in there and them seal it up with epoxy and maybe fiberglass?

[Chotu]

Concrete yes. Pouring epoxy in, no. That mass of epoxy will catch on fire.

[leveche420]

Thank you! What about a mix of little rocks and resin/epoxy? Would concrete be better?

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Concrete yes...

Originally Posted by leveche420

Thank you! What about a mix of little rocks and resin/epoxy?...

I would not want either of you working on my boat.

Concrete?!!! Rocks?!!!

Build a proper mast step. Since you don't know how, hire a pro.

[roverhi]

It was common practice in the days of wooden boats to fill voids around internal ballast with concrete. They were just trying to fill up space with something that was non compressable. Fibreglass builders poured in thickened polyester resin often with a thickening agent around loose ballast material in molded hollow keels.

Seems like whoever built the PO's boat either used concrete made with sand or some other fine grained agent. If they didn't put in enough cement in the mix it might break down over time. I'd bust out the crumbling mix and replace with polyester resin mixed with sand or some other non compressable material. Don't use epoxy as the the heat from the chemical reaction of resin and catalyst could start a fire in a conglomeration that thick.

[BlueChicago]

A google search on compression post repair turns up a fair amount of information, with quite a variety of solutions.

[Onthehard]

leveche420,
Go to groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SouthernCrossSailboats/info
Follow instructions there to join and subscribe.
There have been similar discussions there in the past.

[leveche420]

Originally Posted by Onthehard

leveche420,
Go to groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SouthernCrossSailboats/info
Follow instructions there to join and subscribe.
There have been similar discussions there in the past.

Thanks! I tried to join that group in the past with no success. I will try again

[leveche420]

Originally Posted by leveche420

Here are some pictures!

After doing some research, this material maybe vermiculite mixed up with resin

Trying to get all this out and thinking what I am going to put in its place... layers of plastic sheets, fiberglass and resin?