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David_Old_Jersey · 15-08-2013, 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiverChick71

I'm more worried about finding the source on the bow...

Part of the fun of boats is puzzling stuff out

. Lots on CF about fixing decks (various approaches used - some better than others)......if you didn't know already, MINARET is the fella who has posted lots of advice over the years based on a career fixing other people's boats. For anyone doing deck work / wet core / bottoms / fibreglassing well worth searching up his posts

Richard5 · 15-08-2013, 00:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiverChick71

Thanks. And I'll try to not set the boat on fire.

I forgot to mention that given the size of the area, I planned on putting marine plywood coated in epoxy in as well. Is it possible that the fiberglass would be bad? My understanding is that the core is the problem, not the fiberglass, but someone else on another forum mentioned checking the fiberglass. We just had the boat hauled and there are no blisters anywhere, nor were there any blisters in a 2007 survey we saw.

My experience and that of others I have known is that surveyors these days are less prone to probing the vessel. They are less active in searching for problems. If not readily visible they likely do not make it into recommendations. Caveat emptor.

What was the purpose of the staples you pulled? You had also mentioned using plywood or replacing with plywood. What did you have in mind?

Richard5 · 15-08-2013, 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by defjef

If water got in... presumably it can be driven out... and then the assembly properly sealed against further infiltration. no?

You are quite right. However, the damage it leaves behind is the problem. This could be anywhere from soft spots in the deck to spongy structural items to engine stringers which fail. I've seen all of that, even after source of water intrusion was stopped. Water is insidious, but even after intrusion is stopped you have to R/R the damage.

Richard5 · 15-08-2013, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by skipmac

Tried some Git-Rot on my house and a spot on the cabin sole where the PO let battery acid spill and rotted the wood. Ask me in 5-10 years and I'll let you know how it worked out.

You don't have to wait 5-10 yrs. Ask yourself, what is the PSI strength (in tension, compression, or shear) of the product? Is that important to what you are using it for? BTW: strength and durability are factors of bonding. To what did you bond? What is the cross section?

David_Old_Jersey · 15-08-2013, 00:42

And good odds that even if the wood is still good that no longer bonded to the fibreglass.

**skipmac** · 15-08-2013, 06:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiverChick71

I'm more worried about finding the source on the bow...

On my boat the leaks on the bow were all around the anchor windlass.

Basically just look everywhere there is a hole in the fiberglass. Check anything is mounted or screwed to the deck.

**minaret** · 15-08-2013, 06:29

$300 for a quality moisture meter might solve some problems for the OP. Will show the extent of wet core both around the portholes and on foredeck. If it saves you from making a single glass repair due to exploratory drilling, it's paid for itself. This is a tool which every boat owner should have, IMHO. I only use the GRP-33. Once wet core is mapped out the source is generally obvious.