Deck delimitation? What do you think?

[Ru88ell]

Deck delamination? What do you think?

I'm looking to purchase this boat. I like it a lot. However, there is a small area on the foredeck which feels significantly different to to the rest. It's about 12" x 12" and lies directly behind the winch and forward hatch. The winch also houses the inboard end of the 8' bowsprit. The boat is 23 yrs old.

In the image you can just make out the feint line around the edge of the spongy area. When I take my weight off the area there is a definite 'pop' as the topside moves back into place.

What do you think? Avoid?

 

[macd]

...er, you might want to adjust the title of the thread. And maybe sack the spellchecker.

As to the question, you clearly know what the problem is. Unless the necessary work is reflected in an adjusted price, walk away. And even if it is, do you want the nagging doubt if it's 'fixed'? At the very least, you'd need to be confident the source of the delamination (probably water ingress, but from where?) has been removed.

 

[prv]

Depends how much you like this particular boat, compared to the handful of others available. It's certainly repairable - the core of the aft deck on Kindred Spirit was completely rotten, and in a couple of weekends I cut away the top skin, dug out the old core, fitted a new one, and laid a new top skin. The repair is visible but not especially ugly. If you got a pro to do it, they could probably do an invisible repair, at a cost, or a neat patch at less effort hence presumably less cost. Given the other bits and bobs on the foredeck of a Cornish Yawl, I think a neat symmetrical patch would look fine.

EDIT: Is this the one that Crabbers themselves are selling, or the other one you were looking at? If the former, I'd get them to fix it in-house as part of the deal. Can't be more than a day's work for one of their fibreglass guys.

Pete

 

[maby]

Do check carefully elsewhere on the boat too - is it indicative of general condition? What is a nuisance in a small area can become a show-stopper if it extends across a much larger area.

 

[prv]

the source of the delamination (probably water ingress, but from where?)

Three prime candidates there in the picture. The bolts for the hatch hinges, the bolts for the samson post, and the screw in the anchor chock. All of these were starting to fail on Kindred Spirit; the surveyor picked up damp in the foredeck though no actual delamination, and I removed and rebedded all three items during the first winter.

Pete

 

[bjl]

You are looking for excuses to buy the boat despite your reservations. Walk away from it and don't look back!

 

[ripvan1]

Pretty important part of the boat that personally I'd want very strong, not spongy and popping !

 

[30boat]

If the price takes into account the trouble of fixing the problem don't let it stop you.Delamination in decks is easily repaired.

 

[oldsaltoz]

That bit of soft deck is a high point on the topsides, so water that got in will be making it's way towards the lower areas heading for the toe-rail.

Doing the repair from below the deck is messy and tiresome, but it preserves the top sides so all at least looks original. and will sell at a better price.

Just make sure the Balsa is replaced with a Closed Cell Foam.

Good luck and fair winds.

 

[davidpbo]

I replaced some small areas of rotten balsa(《1ft squ)with Marine ply.

I too would suggest doing it from underneath to preserve the top surface if possible. For a small area it is not too bad but does depend on access.

 

[Ru88ell]

Thanks for the comments. How should the surface cracks be addressed?

 

[macd]

Thanks for the comments. How should the surface cracks be addressed?

They need grinding out right back to the laid-up glass, then re-gelcoating. Anything less and they'll reappear (and they might, anyway, depending on what's caused them).

 

[macd]

I replaced some small areas of rotten balsa(《1ft squ)with Marine ply.

I too would suggest doing it from underneath to preserve the top surface if possible. For a small area it is not too bad but does depend on access.

Should the OP choose to do it that way, upside-down laminating is a pain in the proverbial. If the job lends itself to it, easiest to buy GRP sheet from a roofing supplier: add one or two more laminates to the upper face if necessary, spread epoxy/microfibre paste on the keyed mating surfaces, temporarily screw in place until it cures. Far less messy.

 

[Ru88ell]

Thanks again. The results from the survey came in last night, and this is just one issue. I think I'll be giving it a miss.