[Public-List] Cockpit Coaming

Randy Whitney moiraeiii at gmail.com
Sat Sep 28 23:45:34 PDT 2013


Jeff,
Interesting that you have quarter round where I have none. Is the quarter
round teak of some other wood i.e. mahogany or even plastic or metal? As to
the horizontal splitting, I too had that and repaired it much like you
except I used stainless rod and came up from the bottom. The split was the
result of excessive stress of the traveler, as the coaming was the anchor
for the traveler. I fabricated a stainless support which acts as a stop and
attaches the trailing edge of the coaming to the deck. It has worked well
for the past twenty years and looks not bad. Not having quarter round makes
removing the varnish easy, so I will have to ruminate on this over the
winter but I do see the merit of the quarter round. What size is the
quarter round?
Randy



On Sat, Sep 28, 2013 at 6:41 PM, Jeffrey <fongemie at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'd like to add that when I reconditioned my combings, I went down to bare
> wood, and had to glue the outboard quarter-round back to the main combing
> with epoxy. I also added a generous layer of thickened epoxy to the
> underside (against the deck). By not having bedding, I can easily (more or
> less) remove them to refinish indoors over the winter. I too enjoy
> varnishing indoors in the pre-season. We don't put the boat in until late
> May, Early June so I've got plenty of time. I've not noticed any
> sludge/crud buildup when I've removed them.
>
> I've got a different problem, my combings are getting thin, and a couple
> years ago I noticed a horizontal crack that developed, and started to
> lengthen! I bought a 8" inch long 1/4 inch drill bit and drilled three
> holes down from the top well past the split. Squirted in some epoxy and
> tapped in lengths of bronze rod, and put a bung on each. So far so good,
> but I think making new combings is in my future.
>
>
>
>
> Jeffrey Fongemie
>
> Seagrass
> Alberg 30 #116
> Boothbay Harbor Maine
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Sep 28, 2013 at 12:58 PM, George Dinwiddie
> <gdinwiddie at alberg30.org>wrote:
>
> > Todd,
> >
> > Here's a fourth variation:
> >
> > I used a strip of neoprene gasket material at the top edge between the
> > hull & outboard side of the coaming. I also caulked the deck-coaming
> joint,
> > because water was sitting in there.
> >
> > The neoprene gasket was much easier to handle than dolomite. I got it
> with
> > adhesive on only one side, and put that against the fiberglas. Removing
> and
> > replacing the coaming was much easier the next time.
> >
> >  - George
> >
> >
> > On 9/28/13 11:59 AM, j t wittbold wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks Randy-
> >>
> >> So that is actually a third approach I guess:
> >> 1. no bedding compound applied between hull and outboard side of coaming
> >> 2. use a caulk bead at deck-coaming abutment (+ sealant at coaming
> >> through-bolts)
> >>
> >> Does that approach supply enough of an airflow to keep whatever moisture
> >> does get in between from rotting coaming (given 2 year maintenance
> >> described)?
> >> Did you have to do any restorative work to the outboard side of coaming?
> >> If so, what did you do?
> >>
> >>
> >> Todd Wittbold
> >> #207
> >> Valhöll
> >>
> >> On Sep 28, 2013, at 11:34 AM, Randy Whitney <moiraeiii at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>  Todd,
> >>> I live in Vermont and sail in Lake Champlain.
> >>> Twenty-five years ago I removed the coamings to refinish them. I had a
> >>> particularly hard and tedious time separating the coaming from the
> glass
> >>> because of the bedding compound (dolemite?). I used heat to soften the
> >>> compound and a broad putty knife to separate the coaming. In a few
> places
> >>> the gelcoat actually chunked off. That year I simply bolted the coaming
> >>> back into place and ran a bead of sealant on the top of the joint
> >>> interface. Water found it's way around the bolts an into the lockers.
> >>> Unacceptable. The following year I ran a bead of rubber sealant around
> each
> >>> bolt and also at the interface. This system seems to have worked since,
> >>> although the rubber sealant is harder to find. The only issue with this
> >>> method is that if the coamings are not removed at least every two
> years or
> >>> so the dust and dirt collects between the interfaces and if left
> unattended
> >>> will probably support plant life.
> >>> I find it much easier to keep the bright work bright if it is removed,
> >>> finished and reinstalled rather than sanding, striping and finishing
> it in
> >>> place. But that's me, others find it too much of a hassle.
> >>> As they say around here, 'you pays your nickle and takes your chances'
> >>> My experience,
> >>> Randy  MOIRAEIII #283
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Sat, Sep 28, 2013 at 10:53 AM, j t wittbold <johnnywittbold at mac.com
> >
> >>> wrote:
> >>> Will try to summarize what I've heard re Cockpit Coaming:
> >>>
> >>> There are two schools of thought that hinge upon the decision to use a
> >>> bedding compound:
> >>> 1. use a bedding compound and caulking strip to seal the outboard side
> >>> of the coaming to prevent water rotting the coaming
> >>> 2. do not use a bedding compound or any outboard side caulking of the
> >>> joint between deck and coaming, enabling free flow of air around
> coaming
> >>>
> >>> In either approach, it is not advisable to caulk the cockpit side of
> >>> coaming abutment. It can only trap moisture against the coaming.
> >>>
> >>> The majority of responses favored the 1st approach.
> >>> Not sure how much of the decision is influenced by climate since both
> >>> Jeff and Glenn have their A30s in cold, wet climates.
> >>> Nobody seems to know how Whitby delivered the boats relative to sealing
> >>> cockpit coamings.
> >>>
> >>> For me, either of these approaches require will require removing the
> >>> coaming from Valhöll, which will have to wait till next season
> probably.
> >>>
> >>> Two follow-on questions:
> >>>
> >>> 1. For those who have removed coaming and reconditioned outboard side
> of
> >>> coaming… what was the approach?
> >>> 2. Would be grateful for opinions regarding the pros & cons of each of
> >>> the above approach relative to ongoing periodic maintenance
> requirements?
> >>>
> >>> Thanks
> >>>
> >>> Todd Wittbold
> >>> #207
> >>> Valhöll
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Sep 25, 2013, at 8:27 PM, j t wittbold <johnnywittbold at mac.com>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>  Thanks for the replies gentlemen.
> >>>>
> >>>> To be clear, I was referring to a bead of caulking running on the
> >>>> outboard side of cockpit that is intended to prevent water on deck
> entering
> >>>> in the space between coaming and hull. My concern was this might make
> it
> >>>> very hard to evaporate whatever water does get in there… either from
> sea
> >>>> water while sailing or just from rain, snow or washing the deck and
> cockpit.
> >>>>
> >>>> When I did remove the caulk strip I found some rotten teak remnants
> >>>> (ughhh) and it was clearly moist back there. Which is what prompted my
> >>>> question. It really looks to me like there is about a full 1/8"
> tolerance
> >>>> between coaming and the hull which makes me wonder whether or not it
> was
> >>>> really intended to be sealed off? That is pretty clearly enough room
> to
> >>>> evacuate water so that the moisture can evaporate.
> >>>>
> >>>> My coamings were not embedded in any sort of bedding compound. Water
> >>>> flowed very freely from deck down the back of the coaming and onto
> cockpit
> >>>> seats when I was washing off deck and cockpit. I guess I'm inclined to
> >>>> agree with Jeff's philosophy about seawater entering cockpit through
> an
> >>>> un-caulked coaming… I'm already wet and cold :)
> >>>>
> >>>> So for this winter I will probably just let the outboard side of the
> >>>> coamings air out for a while and then reapply a strip of caulk.
> >>>> Hopefully next fall I will have the ambition to remove and do both
> >>>> sides of coaming and possibly use a bedding compound.
> >>>> But I am still curious about Whitby's original design and
> understanding
> >>>> the "right" way to preserve the longevity of these coamings.
> >>>> I imagine it would be a very expensive and highly skilled job to
> >>>> replace these.
> >>>>
> >>>> -Todd
> >>>> Valhöll #207
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> On Sep 25, 2013, at 5:46 PM, Jeffrey <fongemie at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>  I did the opposite. I didn't bed the coaming with anything.  I know
> >>>>> someone
> >>>>> with a Triton and he does the same (no bedding) so I gave it a try.
> >>>>>  I've
> >>>>> not seen a downside yet. Water rushing down the deck does not flood
> the
> >>>>> cockpit seats unless the weather & seas are real bad, then we're
> >>>>> getting
> >>>>> soaked anyway from the spray. I've taken my coamings off a couple of
> >>>>> times
> >>>>> in the winter to varnish and it makes it easy with no bedding
> compound
> >>>>> to
> >>>>> deal with. The underside of the coaming does not seem any worse for
> >>>>> wear,
> >>>>> though I bet the ability to keep underside varnished may be helping.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Jeffrey Fongemie
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Seagrass
> >>>>> Alberg 30 #116
> >>>>> Boothbay Harbor Maine
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 4:03 PM, Glenn <brooks.glenn at comcast.net>
> >>>>> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>  Tod,  assume you are describing the outboard side of the coaming,
> >>>>>> where it
> >>>>>> T's to the deck?  (Not inside the cockpit side). Dont know about the
> >>>>>> original installation but I bedded my coaming
> >>>>>> Liberally with dolphite bedding compound when I refinished the
> >>>>>> coamings,
> >>>>>> and also sealed the quarter round where it butts up against the
> >>>>>> coaming and
> >>>>>> deck.  Personally I think its a good idea to seal it to keep water
> >>>>>> out.
> >>>>>> if sealed, water has a harder time getting under the finish, and
> >>>>>> soaking
> >>>>>> into the wood.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Dolce is in the most miserable,  grey, wet, disgusting winter
> climate
> >>>>>> in
> >>>>>> the US - the pacific northwest rainforest where it rains constantly
> >>>>>> and
> >>>>>> stays wet for months at time.  Boat hasnt had any trouble with wood
> >>>>>> rot
> >>>>>> when the coamings are bedded well.  FYI, I do leave the  bottom of
> the
> >>>>>> coaming inside the cockpit open so any water that does get in  can
> >>>>>> drain.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Glenn
> >>>>>> Dolce 318
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Sent from my iPad
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> On Sep 25, 2013, at 11:19 PM, j t wittbold <johnnywittbold at mac.com>
> >>>>>> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>  Hi-
> >>>>>>> I am applying Cetol to cockpit coaming.
> >>>>>>> In the process I have removed the aging caulking  that was in place
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>> between the coaming and deck.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Questions:
> >>>>>>> 1) Is this caulking a good idea in general? Does it not make it
> >>>>>>> harder
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>> for the moisture that does get in there to evaporate?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> 2) Does anyone know whether or not this space between coaming and
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>> deck/hull was sealed in the original A30?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> 3) If it is really a good idea to seal off this space, any
> >>>>>>> recommended
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>> caulk for bonding Cetol coated coaming to deck?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Thanks
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Todd
> >>>>>>> Valhöll #207
> >>>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
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> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> ______________
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Jeffrey Fongemie
> >>>>>
> >>>>> <http://instagram.com/**jfongemie <http://instagram.com/jfongemie>>
> >>>>> ______________________________**_________________
> >>>>> These businesses support your Association:
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> >>>>
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> >>>
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> >>> --
> >>> God, if I can’t have what I want, let me want what I have.
> >>>
> >>
> >> ______________________________**_________________
> >> These businesses support your Association:
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> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html>
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> >>
> >>
> > --
> >  ------------------------------**------------------------------**
> > ----------
> >   When I remember bygone days                         George Dinwiddie
> >   I think how evening follows morn;            gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
> >   So many I loved were not yet dead,           http://www.Alberg30.org
> >   So many I love were not yet born.                          also see:
> >                'The Middle' by Ogden Nash     http://idiacomputing.com
> >  ------------------------------**------------------------------**
> > ----------
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________**_________________
> > These businesses support your Association:
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> ______________
>
> Jeffrey Fongemie
>
> <http://instagram.com/jfongemie>
> _______________________________________________
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