[Alberg30] Decks- patching or replacing

[George Dinwiddie]

Matt,

Gelcoat is brittle, and tends to crack at the stress points.  If the 
core is not wet, you don't have a problem.

I would re-chase the cracks with a small sanding wheel on a dremel
tool and then fill with a thickened epoxy putty.  Personally, I'd
probably use W.E.S.T epoxy thickened to peanut-butter consistency
with Sea-Fit glass beads from West Marine.  Other materials would 
work fine, also, but I'm familiar with these.  I'd also suggest 
painting a little liquid epoxy in the cracks before troweling in
the epoxy putty.

 - George

> Matthew Hay said:
> 
> With much help from the association I have fixed my alternator and replaced 
> my exhaust system.  And "winsome" (I know think hull # 314?) is sailing very 
> well.  My (final) concern is with my foredeck, were the doghouse joins the 
> deck.  The previous owner chased cracks around the deck with a dremmel tool. 
>   Making about twenty 1/8 to a 1/4" grooves in the deck (but not in the 
> aw-grip, just between the two pieces of aw-grip were the bow cleats are).  
> Also, were the aw-grip stops and the doghouse meets the foredeck there is a 
> poor patching job.  And directly under in the (roof) of the v-berth, were it 
> makes its angle up into the doghouse, there is some attempt at a patch.  It 
> does not leek and the yacht surveyor said it seems cosmetic not structural.  
> But I am worried about what caused him to do this digging.  Perhaps water in 
> the  wood core of the deck expanded and moved while the doghouse (which is 
> not cored?) stayed in place?  If so, can I buy a couple years by patching 
> existing wounds and painting. Knowing that one day I will have to replace 
> the decks.  How do I determine if I have to replace decks?  They seem solid 
> to me.  And what do you recommend for patching and painting of the quarter 
> inch grooves.  Thank you very much Matt

-- 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  George Dinwiddie                             gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
  The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span those hours spent in
  sailing.                                    http://www.Alberg30.org/
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------


 //===============================================================//
 //       Ocean Navigator magazine, for the serious sailor        //
 // http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000066625/alberg30-20 //
 //===============================================================//
_______________________________________________
Public-list mailing list -- Public-list at alberg30.org
http://www.alberg30.org/mailman/listinfo/public-list
To unsubscribe: email to Public-list-request at alberg30.org
Include command "unsubscribe <password>" in subject or body.
Use command "help" for more options.

 1027456478.0