1992 33.5 Fiberglass Problem

[Merrill Mant]

I have just dicovered a problem with the fiberglass panel that covers the steering quadrant in the cockpit. This panel has suffered from water infiltration around the plastic inspection port for the emergency tiller. The wood core has completely delaminated from the 2 fiberglass skins. Upon closer inspection I fear that the entire panel is full of water and delaminated.... A larger task than this owner was prepared to undertake. Has anyone else run into this problem and how did you solve it?. I will contact Hunter on Monday to see if the panel can be purchased as a replacement part, which I doubt. There is little room to play within this area as the distance between the panel and the top of the quadrant is less than 1/2". Thanks in advance,MerrillS/V Ambition

 

[Alain Jacques]

Same Fiberglass problem

I found the same problem last summer on my hunter 28, 1989.I tried to remove as much water as possible and I let it dry. I put sikaflex around the plastic inspection port, to avoid water to go between the firberglass. Poor design from hunter. Of course, I will have to replace it soon or later, and I would be please to know if hunter have spare part and what is the price. Within two weeks, I will begin to go to the boat for the spring cleaning and I will let know if the cold weather of this winter damaged that part.Good luck

 

[David Priestly]

33.5 steering quadrant panel

Merrill, My 1988 H33.5 has the same rotting problem in the steering quadrant panel. I noted the problem two years ago; the wood core is rotting. I do not use the walk thru area to the transom very much; therefore, it doesn't present a big problem for me---the panel is not subject to any compression. I do plan to remove as much as the core as possible, perhaps using a pressure washer, allow adequate drying, and filling with epoxy.Let me know if you think this would be a viable solution. David s/v "SouthWind"

 

[Ron Barrow]

Rapair of Quadrant Panel

I had the same problem with the panel on Counterpoint (1989 H33.5) as well. To repair the panel, I removed the balsa core by cutting the bottom glass from the panel with a drimel tool. I scraped and chiseled all of the core and fiberglass fabric from edges the molded unit. After sealing the inside of the molded unit with epoxy, I cut 3/4" marine plywood to the proper shape, encased it in epoxy, and laid it into the molded panel. Since the water had come into the core of the panel from the the screw holes that attach it to the hull and from the the screw holes that attach the inspection port that provides access for the for the emergency tiller, I left voids in the plywood around these fittings that I filled with epoxy and later re-drilled. The last step was to lay a few layers of glass to cover the bottom of the panel. Since I was not as careful as I should have been, I had to clean a considerable amount of epoxy off of the gelcoat and eventually re-gelcoat the non-skid portion of the panel. This was not an easy repair, but the panel is now better than new.If you would like more detail, don't hesitate to e-mail: CaptainRonB@earthlink.net. Good Luck, RB