[Public-List] water seeping through under mast

[George Dinwiddie]

Matthew,

What is the core material in your boat?  To my knowledge, the older 
boats have masonite pegboard and the newer ones have balsa.  I've heard 
of few problems with the masonite, but I'm sure it happens.

I've done quite a bit of recoring of Calypso, which has balsa, but I've 
done it all from the top and laid up new glass over it.  I wouldn't have 
much confidence in gluing the original skin back down, and I believe 
that the strength comes from the continuous skin being rigidly fixed to 
the non-compressible core.  I believe it's like an I-beam, only 
distributed over the entire deck.

I don't think that the masonite rots as quickly as the balsa.  I wonder 
if injecting with a thin penetrating epoxy would work to stabilize and 
restore the core.  I'm thinking in terms of drilling a small hole near 
the edge of the delaminated area through a single skin and the core, 
then injecting epoxy with a syringe until it comes out at the hole for 
the electrical wire.

This would have to be done when the core is absolutely dry, which is a 
problem in itself.

  - George

Matthew Hay wrote:
> While prepping for paint I discovered that some water has been getting into
> the core through the electrical conduit and holes on doghouse under the
> mast.  After removing spreader light wires ETC. the core in the holes seemed
> wet.  When softly thumped with a hammer the thumping sound changes from a
> dead thump to a good dry whacking sound about an eight inch radius around
> each hole.  I am assuming quit a bit of water penetration in the core has
> spread from wire holes.  In *This Old Boat* the replacement of the core from
> inside the cabin does not seem that difficult.  Has anyone removed the under
> skin around the mast replaced the core and put the skin back?  What is the
> mast step bolted to?  Do I have to take the mast step off as well or is that
> fastened to a different system then the core?  My mast beam repair is fine
> and unaffected but it was done by the previous owner so I did not gain any
> knowledge about the mast step as if I had done it myself.  So I really do
> not know how the mast step fastens and is supported.  Is this a cosmetic
> issue that I can seal up and worry about later or is this an essential
> structural winter project?
> Thank you very much,
> Matthew
> #314 Renard 1968

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   When I remember bygone days                         George Dinwiddie
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