Moisture in Deck etc.

[andreas.mehlin]

I'm interested in a Dean catamaran, but today when I asked if the boat had been thru a survey recently, and it had.

These are the major things:
The key points noted to me by the surveyor in February were:


1 He showed me with the moisture meter that there is an area on deck to stbd, about 3m long fore and aft, starting about square with the front of the doghouse and extending forward where the moisture is high. There is a smaller area in the mirror position to port. This is the single biggest item, suggesting moisture in the core which would be difficult to repair.
2 We also saw high moisture readings around the stbd hatch on the doghouse
3 Around the base of the innermost forestay the moisture readings are high.
In all of the above, sounding with a mallet confirms areas with loss of integrity
4 To both port and stbd of the cockpit, where the doghouse structure meets the deck there are stress cracks which have allowed moisture into the structure so reading are high around here.
5 She has no escape hatches in the hull, which in Europe is now a legal requirement.
6 Some corrosion issues:
At the point where the beam section for the trampolines meets the anchor roller fitting there is evidence of corrosion of the beam.
He feel that the rig is due an inspection and repaint of the spars
The stbd prop is showing some corrosion – Electrical system should be checked for correct bonding.
7 Water seems to be leaking around the port chainplate
8 The rudder bearings need changing
9 There is some leaking from the Exhaust elbows – they should be checked
10 The storage of gas would not meet current requirements for gas lockers and will come up at any survey as an issue.


So, what would you think about that? How common with moisture in deck?

[S/V Illusion]

It's quite common on boats which have not been maintained well (or at all).

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by andreas.mehlin

I'm interested in a Dean catamaran, but today when I asked if the boat had been thru a survey recently, and it had.

These are the major things:
The key points noted to me by the surveyor in February were:


1 He showed me with the moisture meter that there is an area on deck to stbd, about 3m long fore and aft, starting about square with the front of the doghouse and extending forward where the moisture is high. There is a smaller area in the mirror position to port. This is the single biggest item, suggesting moisture in the core which would be difficult to repair.
2 We also saw high moisture readings around the stbd hatch on the doghouse
3 Around the base of the innermost forestay the moisture readings are high.
In all of the above, sounding with a mallet confirms areas with loss of integrity
4 To both port and stbd of the cockpit, where the doghouse structure meets the deck there are stress cracks which have allowed moisture into the structure so reading are high around here.
5 She has no escape hatches in the hull, which in Europe is now a legal requirement.
6 Some corrosion issues:
At the point where the beam section for the trampolines meets the anchor roller fitting there is evidence of corrosion of the beam.
He feel that the rig is due an inspection and repaint of the spars
The stbd prop is showing some corrosion – Electrical system should be checked for correct bonding.
7 Water seems to be leaking around the port chainplate
8 The rudder bearings need changing
9 There is some leaking from the Exhaust elbows – they should be checked
10 The storage of gas would not meet current requirements for gas lockers and will come up at any survey as an issue.


So, what would you think about that? How common with moisture in deck?

All that moisture is a whole lotta trouble. Do you even know where it's coming from? If the elbows are leaking they don't need to be checked -- they need to be replaced.

This was a poorly maintained boat. Very often (speaking from personal experience here) marine surveyors don't even find all the problems.

You sure you want to take this on? the world is awash with boats for sale right now. Find one with a sound hull AND deck.

[andreas.mehlin]

Thanks for you input!
Yeah, I got a little bit scared when I heard about rot. And the corrosion on the cross beam did not look good either

[andreas.mehlin]

Anyone who knows french (not by google translate!)?
Can't figure out if a mainsail is 80% left or 80% used.

"gv a changer pour une bonne navigation"
Le solent a ete refait bande uv et 40 % d'usure
La GV est usée a 80 %

[Dave852]

They are saying the mainsail needs to be replaced

[SuenosAzules]

Deck moisture is common on older boats. I run into it often. It is a "Gremlin' that in time will need work and that will most likely involve core replacement. It really depends on what your willing to invest in the boat.

[andreas.mehlin]

Originally Posted by SuenosAzules

Deck moisture is common on older boats. I run into it often. It is a "Gremlin' that in time will need work and that will most likely involve core replacement. It really depends on what your willing to invest in the boat.

The boat is from 1998...so not that old

[Cheechako]

is the hull core too? that could be a whole 'nuther can o worms....